After four pulsating quarters of Varsity Netball action at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria, neither team could grab the victory and the spoils were shared in a 48-48 draw on Sunday evening.

Maties scored first in the match and scored a few goals to lead 6-1, before Tuks fought back to level the scores at 10-10. Three goals saw the Maties lead 13-10 at the end of the quarter as they continued to hold a buffer over Tuks, leading through the rest of the quarter, even leading by seven goals at one stage.
Tuks never let Maties completely pull away and always remained within touching distance and the two teams went into halftime with the visitors leading 25-21.

Coach Jenny van Dyk had been making changes throughout the match and her charges responded after the break, scoring first and closing the gap to 25-23. Maties then responded with a flurry of goal-scoring and went back to a six-goal lead at the end of the third quarter at 35-29.

Neither team had used their power play and Tuks were the first to do so, and they did so with devastating effect. They quickly went from 35-31 to 35-35 and then went into the lead for the first time in the match at 37-35. 

Maties then again responded well to draw level and extend the score to 43-40 with the clock winding down. The final power play, which was called with the score at 47-44, saw Tuks capitalise once again and square the match up.

Both teams will take positives from the match, and will want to record victories in their next match on Monday. Maties face the log-leading and defending champions NWU, while Tuks will want a full house of log points when they face strugglers UJ. With five teams in with a shout of qualifying for the semi-finals, any and all log points are vital in the next few rounds.

FNB Player of the Match: Charmaine Baard (Maties)
Samsung Best Shot Award: Nichole Taljaard (Maties)

Teams
Maties: Charmaine Baard (GS, GA), Nichole Taljaard (GA), Somari Els (GA), Adri Uys (WA), Abeline Olivier (WA), Carla Werth (C), Sasha-Lee Petersen (C, WD), Alison Malgas (WD), Nielke Matthee (GD, WD), Megan Gossmann (captain, GD, WD), Caleigh Stuart (GD, GK), Stephanie Brandt (GK)

Tuks: Chanté Louw (GS), Duné Streutker (GS), Rumandi Potgieter (GA, WA), Jeanette Vermeulen (GA, WA), Anique Grobler (WA, C), Tshina Mdau (WA, WD), Marlize de Bruin (C, WD), Akosua Mensah (WD, GD), Lungile Mthembu (WD, GD), Shadine van der Merwe (captain, GD, GK), Juzelri Garbers (GD, GK), Jasmine Ziegelmeier (GK)

By Dorfling Terblanche