Varsity Netball tournament heats up
ROSEBANK - In what proved to be a most entertaining weekend of top-class varsity action in netball, the tournament gained momentum after some dominant performances and shock victories were displayed.
With matches taking place at both NMMU and NWU campuses simultaneously, a tremendous amount of talent was on display.
During the weekend, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) lost 65-49 against NWU-Pukke in their first Potchefstroom game and felt the wrath of Free State’s UFS-Kovsies leaving the course with a 79-36 loss.
On the final day of the three-day netball fixtures, UJ were made to work hard for their 62-40 bonus point victory over a brave University of Cape Town (UCT) side.
The scoreline would suggest the Joburg ladies had it all their own way in the match, but that wasn’t the case as UCT pushed them all the way .
UJ started stronger in the opening five minutes but UCT found their way back into the quarter, however, the Joburg ladies rallied on to take a 14-9 lead at the first interval.
UJ once again started the stronger of the teams and increased their lead but UCT made the most of the powerplay to reduce their opponent’s lead.
The Cape ladies found their rhythm to level matters with five minutes left in the quarter. UJ struck back late in the quarter to hold a slender 27-23 lead at the half-time break.
UCT came out firing in the third quarter as they once again reduced UJ’s lead. The Joburg ladies started to settle and began to run away with the match as they held a 49-33 lead heading into the final quarter.
UJ brought up their bonus point with the first goal of the final quarter as they looked to distance themselves from their Cape opponents.
Despite the best efforts of the Cape ladies, UJ did enough to hold onto their lead and walked away 64-40 as victors.
Ilze Jones was named as the FNB Woman of the Match.
