Tuks’s netball team showed a lot of character on Monday night in the way they went about beating Northwest in a Varsity netball encounter.

At halftime, it seemed as if Tuks was in control. They had a six-points lead. It was expected they will keep on extending this lead. But then again, they were playing the Pukke. A history of the rivalry between the two teams shows there is rarely an easy game. Monday night was no exception.

Northwest never relented and like slow poison clawed themselves back into contention. With ten minutes to play the goal difference was down to two.

Tuks’s “poker face” captain, Tshina Mdau, leading from the front, however, managed to install calmness in the team ensuring every player remained focus on the job on hand. Sticking to the game plan is what it is called at Tuks. It resulted in them beating Northwest 46-43 and still continue to be the only unbeaten team in the competition.

Tuks defenders were undoubtedly the heroes. Every team that so far played against Jasmine Ziegelmeier, Akosua Mensah and Lungile Mthembu have the same story to tell. That is “don’t err on attack”. They will intercept and disrupt.

This continual pressure led to Northwest goal shooters missing more often than they would have liked. In the end, it meant the difference between winning and losing.

Ziegelmeier deservedly got the player of the match award. According to her, they were never worried about the outcome of the game.

“We knew it was going to be tough, so we were prepared. Northwest deserve credit for the way they were able to bring the fight to us up to the very last minute. When the goal difference was down to two ‘Bubbles’ (Mensah) knew what needed to be done. We had to turn a quick few balls,” said Ziegelmeier after the match.

The blonde defender ascribes their on-court “terrorising” efficiency to friendship.

“Being friends’ means we complement each other in the way we play. Sometimes during a game, there might be a few harsh words said by one of us, but no offence is ever taken. It is in the spur of the moment. All that matters is that Tuks ends up winning,” Ziegelmeier explained.

Mensah’s hobby at the moment seems to be collecting Varsity Netball awards. Hardly a game has gone by in which she did not receive recognition for her on-court heroics. On Monday night she was the best interceptor.

As things stand at the moment, Tuks tops the log with 29 points, Kovsies and Maties both have 25 points. All three teams have secured semi-final slots. Northwest’s and UWC are in a battle for the final slot.

Tuks will be playing TUT on Monday at 18:00 in the Rembrandt Hall.

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