Tuks's netball team notched up their eighth consecutive win in the Varsity Tournament last night by beating TUT 77-10 at home.
With this victory, Tuks ensured they remain the only unbeaten team. Next Monday they will faceoff to Northwest at home in the semifinals. Kovsies and Maties will be contesting the other semifinal encounter.
In spite of Tuks dominance last night, it is not a game that will be remembered. To be honest, it was a dull affair. You had one team that was out to try and score goals all the time, and another whose main concern was playing for time.
Quite often the ball was passed from player to player for two to three minutes with nothing really happening because as it was mostly diagonal and backwards moves. So it was no surprise that it took TUT more than 20 minutes to increase their goal tally from two to three. They did not get to score at all in the second quarter.
The biggest positive Tuks can take from the game is that Jasmine Ziegelmeier, Akosua Mensah and Lungile Mthembu proved yet again they are the best defensive unit in Varsity netball. Through their sheer physical presence in the circle and tactical savviness, they have managed so far to rattle every goal shooter and goal attack's confidence.
Tshina Mdau (wing attack) and Marlize de Bruin (centre) have also been instrumental in the way Tuks had been able to dominate most games. It is if they can pre-empt what the other is going to do and then make sure they are in the right position to receive the pass. The speed with which they can move the ball between the two circles is impressive.
The biggest challenge for Tuks is to remain focussed playing the semifinals and hopefully the final. It could be argued that with eight victories on the trot to their name that Tuks has mastered doing so. The reality, however, is that is where the challenge comes in. As far as known no team in the history of Varsity Netball has ever managed to win every game they play.
Remaining unbeaten throughout a tournament is nothing new to Tuks. They managed to do so last year, playing as the Jaguars in the then Brutal Fruit Tournament. At the time they managed to win ten consecutive games. It should be remembered doing so is the exception and not the rule when it comes to winning tournaments.
Monday's semifinal encounter between Tuks and Northwest starts at 19:00 in the Rembrandt Hall.
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