Madibaz Stun NWU with Late Comeback Thriller
- Karen Scheepers
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
Eagles Fly Early
NWU started the clash in perfect fashion, looking sharp in both attack and defence. Their pressure forced Madibaz into a string of early errors, and the Eagles stormed to a commanding 13–6 lead by the end of the first quarter. At that stage, it looked as if NWU would comfortably bounce back from their opening win with another strong result.
Madibaz Fight Back
But Madibaz showed the resilience and fighting spirit that has defined their campaign so far. Slowly but surely, they clawed their way back into the contest. By halftime, the deficit was cut to just three goals at 22–19, rattling NWU’s composure and re-establishing belief among the visitors.
Neck-and-Neck Third Quarter
The third period produced a tense, seesaw battle with the scores tied at one point. NWU managed to regain some control, restoring a four-goal cushion and heading into the final quarter 35–31 in front. The Eagles looked poised to close out the match, but Madibaz had other ideas.
Madibaz Magic in the Final Stretch
In a dramatic last quarter, Madibaz turned the tide completely. With clinical finishing and clever use of the Suzuki Powerplay, they surged past NWU to take the lead. The home side had no response to the onslaught, and Madibaz sealed a remarkable 52–48 victory, their second upset win of the tournament and another fairytale result for the Eastern Cape side.
Quarter scores: 13-6 | 22-19 | 35-31 | 48-52Player of the Match: Keagile Magadla (Madibaz)
Squads
NWU: Sunel Smit, Jaime Matfield, Andrya Joubert, Tlotlang Mokomela, Jessica Matjiu, Johanné Meyer, Amori Matthee, Casey Davids, Christi-Mari Coetzee, Martiné Jordaan, Vivian Venancio, Jeané Visser.
Madibaz: Kaylin Coetzer, Juanita van Tonder, Bronwyn Goosen, Hanniska van Vuuren, Simone Louw, Keagile Magadla, Luyanda Tsotetsi, Mbali Gunyazile, Edon Snyman, Kelly du Toit, Samuelinah Ndizana, Inge van Eyk.
Varsity Netball 2025 Log
Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | PD | BP | PTS |
1 | Madibaz Netball | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +19 | 0 | 8 |
2 | UJ Netball | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +18 | 0 | 8 |
3 | NWU Netball | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +30 | 1 | 5 |
4 | UFS Kovsies Netball | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +21 | 1 | 5 |
5 | UP-Tuks Netball | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 0 | 4 |
6 | Maties Netball | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -14 | 0 | 4 |
7 | Wits Netball | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -25 | 1 | 1 |
8 | Varsity College Netball | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -52 | 0 | 0 |
Next Fixture
Maties Netball vs NWU Netball
🗓️ Monday, 1 September
🕖 19:00
📍 NWU Mafikeng Great Hall
📺 Live on SuperSport
Closing Thought
The defeat served as a harsh reality check for NWU, who had looked dominant early on but ultimately fell short under relentless Madibaz pressure. For Madibaz, it was yet another statement performance that cements their reputation as giant slayers of the tournament. With two wins from two, they now sit top of the standings, while NWU face a crucial away fixture against Maties to get their campaign back on track.
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