Shooters ready for Varsity Netball 2026 semi-final battle

With the Varsity Netball 2026 semi-finals less than a week away (Monday, 21 September), the spotlight will fall on the players who must convert pressure into points. Defending champions NWU Eagles are up against UP-Tuks at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria (17:00), while UFS Kovsies take on UJ at the Callie Human Hall in Bloemfontein (19:00).

With both NWU and Tuks boasting reliable shooters, every possession in the attacking third could prove important.

For NWU, Sunel Smit has been the main scoring force this season, converting 255 of 306 attempts for an 83% success rate and contributing 17 power play goals. Andrya Joubert has provided valuable support, scoring 87 from 103 attempts at 84%.

Tuks will rely on Skyla Eley who has scored 224 from 257 attempts, giving her an 87% success rate, while also registering 16 power play goals. Anke van Rensburg has converted 83% of her six attempts, while Lente Kroukamp sits on 18 from 23 (78%).

The Stripe Generation will be without the services of Kamogelo Maseko who is on national duty at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. She scored 140 goals from 161 attempts, for a success rate of 87%.

The other semi-final sees UJ take on five-time champions Kovsies. Accuracy could be a defining feature as the Free State team seeks to give coach Burta de Kock another title in her last outing with the team.

UJ's Kubura Abubakar has been the most accurate shooter in this year’s competition, scoring 116 from 123 attempts at an impressive 94%. Shilo Berardeli has scored 78 from 102 at 76%. Cornelia Mupenda has converted six of seven attempts (86%) and Neo Mosweu 10 from 15 (67%). The Orange Army will have to do without their highest scorer, Owethu Ngubane, in the goal circle (133 from 146 attempts). She is also in Nairobi representing the Proteas.  

For Kovsies, Mari du Raan has scored 148 from 165 attempts at 90%, including 10 power play goals. Bianca Lubbe has added 140 from 159 at 88%, with 12 power play goals. Marianne Louw has converted 42 from 61 (69%), while Elri Groenewald has scored 17 from 27 (63%).

Fixtures HERE.

Tickets HERE.