Two rounds of pool stage fixtures remain in the 2024 Varsity Netball champs as contenders push hard to secure semi-final berths, and second on the log home-girls Kovsies showed their intent earning a resounding 67-49 victory over defending champions Tuks at the Callie Human Hall at the University of the Free State on Sunday, 22 September, 2024.
The Free State team showed no signs of holding back and with a solid defence, it was the perfect game-plan as the hosts took a 15-9 lead. This continued into the second half as Kovsies’ intensity proved too much for Tuks who made numerous unforced errors.
This helped UFS extend their lead to 38-21 with two quarters to go. Tuks were kept on the back foot and just couldn’t get enough momentum to swing the game in their favour. The home team was just too good for the reigning champions and sealed a convincing win much to the delight of the local fans.
Game two saw third placed Maties up against Madibaz and it was the Cape side who ran away with a 63-22 victory. It was Madibaz who had a bright start to the match but weren’t able to build on their early form and this saw Maties quickly shift proceedings to their benefit to take a 20-8 lead in the first quarter.
Despite being on the back foot Madibaz still gave Maties a run for their money but still wasn’t strong enough to overturn their opponent’s lead. The Maroon Machine had a firm hand on the game as they led 31-14 at halftime. Maties continued to dominate in Q3 and extend their lead to 46-17. The Western Cape team was too strong for the side from Gqeberha to complete a comprehensive win.
In the next match it was log leaders UJ who recorded a gritty 53-22* win over TUT. The Johannesburg side were slow out the blocks but managed to settle in the first quarter which saw them lead 12-5. UJ started to build significant momentum as they notched up a lead of 18 points and continued to hold on to that lead 14-32.
There was a fightback from TUT in the third quarter but that came a little too late as UJ still led 40-23 and managed to hold on for the win. TUT also suffered a 10-goal deduction for a transformation transgression.
NWU faced Wits in the final game of the day and the Eagles won the fixture 54-39. NWU had a good start to the match and showed dominance early on which saw them lead 17-6 after Q1. Things started to heat up as both teams were going all out on attack but it was NWU who made sure they kept the scoreboard ticking to lead 28-14 at halftime.
Q3 saw both teams put on the pressure in the scoring department but NWU were still in the driving seat held on to the lead as victory saw them pick up their fourth win after what was quite a tough outing against Elsje Jordaan’s team.
NWU’s win also saw them move into fourth sport at the expense of Tuks ahead of the final round robin matches that takes place on Monday, 23 September, 2024. The semi-finals take place a week later on Monday, 30 September 2024.
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
13:00 NWU Netball vs Maties Netball17:00 Madibaz Netball vs Wits Netball19:00 UFS Kovsies Netball vs TUT Netball
Monday, 30 September at Venue TBC
17:00 Semi-Final 1 TBC vs TBC19:00 Semi-Final 2 TBC vs TBC
Monday, 7 October at Venue TBC
19:00 Varsity Netball Final TBC vs TBC
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: Two rounds of pool stage fixtures remain in the 2024 Varsity Netball champs as contenders push hard to secure semi-final berths, and second on the log home-girls Kovsies showed their intent earning a resounding 67- 49 victory over defending champions Tuks at the Callie Human Hall at the University of the Free State on Sunday, 22 September, 2024. Photo: Varsity Netball
Photo 2 caption: Madibaz had a bright start but Maroon Machine had a firm hand on the game and Maties completed a comprehensive win. Photo: Varsity Netball
Photo 3 caption: TUT suffered a 10-goal penalty for a transformation transgression as UJ added a gritty win to their unbeaten tournament record. Photo: Varsity Netball
Photo 4 caption: NWU faced Wits in the final game of the day and the Eagles won the fixture 54-39 to leave NWU and Maties third equal on the log. Photo: Varsity Netball
