Eagles Soar Over Tuks with Commanding Away Victory
- Karen Scheepers
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Statement Win in Pretoria
The NWU Eagles continued their impressive Varsity Netball campaign with a resounding 67–54 victory over UP-Tuks at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The visitors silenced the home crowd with a dominant display from the outset, claiming their third win of the season and tightening their grip on a top-three position in the standings.
Eagles Take Control Early
From the opening whistle, the Eagles dictated the tempo. Their attacking unit wasted no time in finding their rhythm, with Sunel Smit leading the charge in the circle. UP-Tuks, plagued by a slow start and unforced errors, quickly found themselves on the back foot. By the end of the first quarter, NWU had already carved out a commanding 21–11 lead, leaving the Pretoria side scrambling for answers.
Tuks Struggle to Respond
Despite the vocal support of their home fans, Tuks could not contain the visitors’ offensive power in the second quarter. NWU’s clinical finishing and tight defensive coverage ensured that any attempt at a comeback was short-lived. Coach Amanda Mynhardt shuffled her pack, moving captain Caroline Paul into the centre and Marichelle Visagie into the shooting circle, but NWU continued to dominate. At halftime, the scoreboard reflected the difference in intensity: NWU 36, Tuks 22.
Momentum Maintained
The third quarter confirmed NWU’s superiority. The Eagles extended their lead to 52–35, with their composure in attack matched by defensive resilience. Tuks’ persistent errors allowed NWU to pile on the pressure, effectively putting the result beyond doubt. Even as the hosts attempted to fight back, their execution faltered under the relentless press of the Eagles’ midcourt and circle defenders.
Late Rally Falls Short
Tuks did manage a spirited run in the final quarter, sinking seven unanswered goals to briefly ignite the home crowd. However, NWU’s experience and discipline ensured they were never in real danger of surrendering their advantage. The Eagles calmly weathered the storm and secured a decisive 67–54 win to underline their credentials as serious contenders.
Key Details from the Clash
Final Score: UP-Tuks 54 – 67 NWU
Quarter Scores: 11–21 | 22–36 | 35–52 | 54–67
Player of the Match: Christi-Mari Coetzee (NWU)
UP-Tuks Squad: Georgia de Jongh, Zionné Grobler, Megan Holland, Elri Jacobs, Juané Kruger, Devoné Lansberg, Thando Ngcobo, Caroline Paul, Anja van den Heever, Venece van Vollenhoven, Marichelle Visagie, Jamie Williamson.
NWU Squad: Sunel Smit, Jaime Matfield, Andrya Joubert, Jessica Matjiu, Johanné Meyer, Amori Matthee, Christi-Mari Coetzee, Vivian Venancio, Jade Ekwatu, Liane van Lochem, Casey Davids, Johanne Meyer.
Current Varsity Netball Log (after 4 rounds)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PD | BP | Pts |
1 | UJ Netball | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +62 | 0 | 16 |
2 | UFS Kovsies Netball | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +131 | 1 | 13 |
3 | NWU Netball | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +57 | 1 | 13 |
4 | Madibaz Netball | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 | 8 |
5 | Maties Netball | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -13 | 0 | 8 |
6 | Wits Netball | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -34 | 1 | 5 |
7 | UP-Tuks Netball | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -47 | 0 | 4 |
8 | Varsity College Netball | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -147 | 0 | 0 |
Upcoming Fixture for NWU Netball
Monday, September 8 – 13:00
UFS Kovsies Netball vs NWU Netball
Venue: Rembrandt Hall, Pretoria
Broadcast: SuperSport
The Road Forward
This emphatic away win has given the Eagles renewed momentum and confidence as they prepare for one of their toughest assignments yet: a clash with UFS Kovsies. With both sides level on points and chasing leaders UJ, Monday’s battle in Pretoria could prove pivotal in shaping the race for the top spots. For NWU, the challenge is clear, maintain their composure, harness their consistency, and keep soaring high.
🦅💜🏐🔥
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