NWU crowned Varsity Netball 2025 Champions in epic battle

Johané
Sep 30
2 min read

The Varsity Netball 2025 final at the Callie Human Hall in Bloemfontein served up all the drama and excitement fans could have wished for. In front of a passionate, buzzing crowd, NWU stunned defending champions UFS Kovsies with a thrilling 57–49 victory.

It was a historic night for the Eagles, who clinched their third Varsity Netball title, and their first since 2016. Their last appearance in the final came in 2022, when they were edged out by Maties, making this triumph all the sweeter.

First Half: Neck-and-Neck Battle

After the national anthem, the game burst into life with NWU striking first. Kovsies were slow to settle until Liame de Lange’s crucial interception allowed the hosts to draw level before edging ahead. NWU countered with patient build-up play, using measured passing to stay in touch. Fierce defensive efforts on both sides kept the scores tight, with Kovsies holding a slender 13–12 advantage after the first quarter.

In the second, the defending champions sought to break free by attempting longer, riskier passes. But accuracy deserted them, and NWU’s defenders Jessica Matjiu and Martiné Jordaan worked tirelessly to disrupt star shooter Mari du Raan. With goals hard to come by, both teams merely doubled their tallies, and the Kovsies went into halftime 26–24 ahead.

Third Quarter: Kovsies Stretch Ahead

The penultimate period saw NWU’s Sunel Smit use her height to keep the scoreboard moving, but Kovsies’ Tandolwetho Mokoena disrupted NWU attacks and ignited the home fans. Both sides held back their power plays, heightening the tension. Kovsies continued their consistent scoring pace with another 13 goals, while NWU faltered slightly with just 10. Heading into the final quarter, the scoreboard read 39–34 in Kovsies’ favour.

Final Quarter: Eagles Take Flight

With everything on the line, Du Raan and Xandri Fourie kept Kovsies in the contest, dominating the attacking circle. After the first power play, the teams were level, setting up a nail-biting finish. But once NWU edged ahead, the once-vocal home crowd fell silent. The Eagles unleashed their best netball in the dying minutes, capitalising during the second power play to score unanswered goals and storm clear.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard told the story of a famous NWU win: 57–49.

Quarter scores: 13–12 | 26–24 | 39–34 | 49–57

Awards

FNB Player of the Match: Sunel Smit (NWU)
FNB Player of the Tournament: Reratilwe Letsoalo (UFS Kovsies)
Suzuki Players’ Player of the Tournament: Cornelia Mupenda (UJ)

Teams

UFS Kovsies: Liame de Lange, Reratilwe Letsoalo, Elene Vosloo, Xandri Fourie, Charne van Vuuren, Chanique Eyberg, Mari du Raan, Thando Mokoena, Leane Otto, Megan Erasmus, Siyamthandanda Sambo, Mienke Delport.

NWU: Sunel Smit, Jaime Matfield, Andrya Joubert, Jessica Matjiu, Johanné Meyer, Amori Matthee, Christi-Mari Coetzee, Vivian Venancio, Jade Egwatu, Liane van Lochem, Casey Davids, Johanne Meyer, Martiné Jordaan.

Well done, NWU Netball girls! It's been a long time coming. Your commitment, dedication and passion for the game was visible on the court, and your hard work was rewarded in the best way possible. The Potchefstroom community is proud as punch!

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