Tuks has all but qualified for the Varsity Netball semifinals last night by beating UJ 62-33 in the Rembrandt Hall. 

For now, they are still the only unbeaten team in the competition topping the log with 25 points after five games.  Maties and Kovsies are second both with 20 points followed by Northwest with 17 points. 

Tonight playing Northwest is going to be Tuks's last real test until the semifinals in two weeks time. Northwest needs to win to sure their place in the playoffs. Unfortunately, there are never any guarantees when the two teams clash. 

Tuks was certainly not at its best against UJ. They came out guns blazing in the first quarter to set up a 16-3 lead but from then on the game boiled down to a tit for tat battle. Tuks still managed to outscore UJ in every quarter, but the way they did so was not convincing. 

There was a stage during the game where Tuks's goal percentage dropped to 68%. On occasions, the Tuks shooters missed three consecutive shots at goal. What kept the home team in play was how the likes of Tshina Mdau, Marlize de Bruin, Lungile Mthembu were able to continually ensure the ball get to the shooters.

Defensively Tuks was brilliant. Out of pure desperation, UJ often had no option but to resort to diagonal passes hoping that somehow a gap will open up which will allow them to get the ball into the circle. 

Mdau was honest in her assessment of the game.

"Could we have done better? Yes. Are we not happy with our performance? No, actually we are quite content with what we did, but there is always room for improvement."

Lungile Mthembu, who was the player of the match, said perhaps she and her teammates might have been too relaxed going into the game. 

"But it will be wrong to take anything away from UJ. They brought their best game to the court. It made it challenging, but also exciting." 

According to Venetia Grobler, Tuks's goal shooter, last night was a bad day at the office for her. 

"Sometimes, it just happens that I battle to remain focussed. Unfortunately, it happened against UJ."

De Bruin who came on as a substitute in the second half impressed with the way she was able to lift the tempo of the game playing as a centre. She was quite modest about it afterwards.

"I like to try and be quick on the court ever so often. Playing at a high intensity is essential to me; however, sometimes, when you play a supposedly easy game, it can get difficult to do so."

Awards
FNB Player of the Match: Lungile Mthembu (Tuks)
Wimpy Moment Maker:  Jasmine Ziegelmeier (Tuks)
MTN Interceptor of the Match: Akosua Mensah (Tuks)

Tonight's game against Northwest starts at 19:00.