The Kovsies will have an ideal opportunity to put the wrongs against UP-Tuks right when they come up against Pukke on Monday in Johannesburg. Already bouncing back against VUT with a resounding 78-25 victory on Sunday, Kovsies jumped up to fourth on the log and will hope to gain momentum against an undefeated Pukke outfit on Monday.
VUT did not provide too much of a threat for the Free State students on Sunday afternoon, and they used the match to implement the things that didn’t go according to plan in the 41-62 hiding against Tuks last Monday.
One of the things that will was high on that list was better execution, especially in the power plays. This two-minute period in which goals count double, usually gets the adrenaline pumping and players get too desperate to sink as many goals as possible, that they often lose their cool.
“We have to be more consistent and can’t afford to drop our standards as we did against Tuks in that third quarter. It was the same story at the Ussa tournament where our consistency was also a problem,” said vice-captain Khomotso Mamburu.
The Kovsies led by six goals at one stage in the third quarter of their opening match of 2016, but allowed Tuks back in the game. “Yes we have not played together recently as a Kovsies team, but most of the team members were part of the Free State team at last month’s national championship.” She said they are fine with the challenge of having to rebuild, aiming to eventually get to the top.
“It is easier to slowly build towards the top than staying there. Yes we would have liked to start off with an easier game to find our feet, but that is how the fixtures were compiled.”
On Monday (17:30 on SuperSport) the Kovsies will have a tough assignment against the NWU-Pukke who they lost to against the odds in last year’s semi-final. The fixture is also played in Johannesburg. The Pukke will be strengthened by Proteas Sigi Burger and Renske Stoltz, both playing shooter.
Previous meetings between Kovsies and Pukke in Varsity Netball:
2015: Pukke 56 – Kovsies 48 (semi-final), Kovsies 47 – Pukke 38
2014: Kovsies 51 – Pukke 45 (semi-final), Pukke 45 – Kovsies 45
2013: Kovsies 44 – Pukke 40 (final), Pukke 60 – Kovsies 47
Last five meetings between Kovsies and Pukke (all competitions):
2016: Pukke 44 – Kovsies 43, Kovsies 59 – Pukke 40
2015: Pukke 56 – Kovsies 48, Kovsies 47 – Pukke 38, Kovsies 41 –Pukke 39
Kovsies team: Gertriana Retief, Rieze Straeuli, Danelle Lochner, Lefébre Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane, Mariska Pieters, Tanya Mostert (C), Khomotso Mamburu, Alicia Puren, Rykie Venter, Frances Hurling, Chantene Borlinghaus.
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