Varsity Netball defending champions Maties crashed out of the tournament following a 61-33 defeat at the hands of UP-Tuks in the semi-finals at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria on Monday evening (11 September).
The home side and two-time champions took to the court on a quest to prove their emphatic win over the Maroon Machine in the round-robin stages was not a fluke. The unbeaten hosts dominated the early exchanges with minimal errors and clinical execution, which saw them secure a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter (16-6).
They continued their strident form in the second quarter, with Maties having a number of chances to reduce the deficit during the power play. Their efforts, however, did not materialise as they managed to only add two points during the period. This left Tuks with a comfortable 26-12 lead at half-time.
A fair restart from the break saw Maties getting back-to-back goals after their struggles in the first two quarters, but the combination of Alice Kennon and Milla Coetzee in the Tuks goal circle kept the home side one step ahead. Tuks fully used the last power play, netting six goals to secure a 28-point victory.
