It was the home team who secured their fifth title as UFS Kovsies sealed an extra-time 58-55 victory over the Orange Army to win the the 2024 Varsity Netball final at the Callie Human Hall at the University of the Free State, in Bloemfontein in the Free State, on Monday, 7 October, 2024.
The Varsity Netball final was billed as a hotly contested fixture, and it certainly lived up to the hype as the two best teams in the competition put their skills on show while battling it out for the trophy.
Reflecting on this season’s competition, teams really upped the ante with some surprising wins and shock losses, which allowed the reigning champions Tuks to sneak into the semi-finals before being knocked out by Kovsies.
Heading into the encounter, both teams matched on impressive stats with six wins in seven group-stage matches, but the home team – having already won the title four times – boasting the best attacking record with a whopping 568 goals against the UJ’s netted tally of 448.
Both teams started with true intent from the onset on game day, and their intensity was clear to see in the fierce battle which saw the home side take a narrow 13-12 lead after the first quarter.
It was hard to separate the two teams after the first 15 minutes, but Kovsies managed to hold onto their lead in the second quarter by a hair, as Bongi Msomi’s team strived to match their opponents at every turn, but the UFS held on to the lead for a half-time lead of 23-21.
The third quarter played out in the same vein as the first two, making it increasingly difficult to see any significant difference between the two teams as the all-important final quarter approached. Kovsies still held the lead by one goal, with the score at 35-34.
However, the trajectory of the game shifted when UJ took the lead for the first time, after they utilised their powerplay early. But the drama wasn’t over yet! The match ended in a 47-all draw as Kovsies ensured they didn’t let the final slip away.
The match went to extra time, and after the first half, the two teams still couldn’t be separated, remaining neck-and-neck at 51-all. Kovsies however managed to score when it counted the most, and went on to seal the win in what will be remembered as a classic final.
Results and Fixtures of the 2024 Varsity Netball Tournament
Sunday, 1 September at the Wits Sports Hall
Wits Netball 33-78 UFS Kovsies NetballUJ Netball 46-38 Maties NetballUP-Tuks Netball 96-9 TUT NetballNWU Netball 85-49 Madibaz Netball
Monday, 2 September at the Wits Sports Hall
UFS Kovsies Netball 62-54 NWU NetballTUT Netball 13-77 Maties NetballUJ Netball 72-35 Madibaz NetballWits Netball 49-64 UP-Tuks Netball
Sunday, 8 September at the Madibaz Sports Centre
Madibaz Netball 47-81 UP-Tuks NetballWits Netball 42-68 Maties NetballUJ Netball 51-46 UFS Kovsies NetballTUT Netball 17-75 NWU Netball
Monday, 9 September at the Madibaz Sports Centre
UJ Netball 59-42 Wits NetballNWU Netball 62-61 UP-Tuks NetballMaties Netball 45-56 UFS Kovsies NetballMadibaz Netball 71-25 TUT Netball
Monday, 16 September
Madibaz Netball 26-79 UFS Kovsies Netball (Rembrandt Hall)UP-Tuks Netball 48-55 Maties Netball (Rembrandt Hall)Wits Netball 86-24 TUT Netball (NWU Mafikeng Great Hall)NWU Netball 39-64 UJ Netball (NWU Mafikeng Great Hall)
Sunday, 22 September at the Callie Human Hall
UFS Kovsies Netball 67-49 UP-Tuks NetballMaties Netball 63-22 Madibaz NetballTUT Netball 22-53 UJ NetballWits Netball 39-54 NWU Netball
Monday, 23 September at the Callie Human Hall
NWU Netball 54-38 Maties NetballUP-Tuks 56-48 UJMadibaz Netball 50-62 Wits NetballUFS Kovsies Netball 112-9 TUT Netball
Monday, 30 September at the Callie Human Hall in Bloemfontein
17:00 Semi-Final 1: UJ Netball 55-48 NWU Netball19:00 Semi-Final 2: UFS Kovsies Netball 69-62 UP-Tuks Netball
The 2024 Varsity Netball Final, at the Callie Human Hall at the UFS in Bloemfontein on Monday, 7 October
19:00 Varsity Netball Final: Kovsies 58-55 UJ
Teams Contesting the 2024 Varsity Netball Tournament
NWU Netball – North West UniversityUP-Tuks Netball – University of PretoriaMaties Netball – University of StellenboschMadibaz Netball – Nelson Mandela UniversityUJ Netball – University of JohannesburgUFS Kovsies Netball – University of the Free StateWits Netball – University of WitwatersrandTUT Netball – Tshwane University of Technology
Main Photo caption: Kovsies won the 2024 Varsity Netball title after sealing victory in extra-time when Monday night’s final against UJ went down to the wire with the finalists tied after regulation time, only for the Free State team to persevere to claim their fifth title, at the Callie Human Hall at the UFS in Bloemfontein in the Free State on Monday, 7 October, 2024. All Photos: Varsity Netball
