By Katleho Malangabe
The defending champions had made their intentions clear from the very first whistle. On the 23 of August 2026, the NWU Eagles delivered a masterclass in attacking netball, brushing aside the Madibaz(NMU) with a commanding 74-31 victory in their Varsity Netball opener.
The North West side came out of the blocks like a house on fire. Sharp passing, quick feet and a defensive wall that gave the Gqeberha outfit no breathing room. By the end of the first quarter, the Eagles had already opened a healthy 21-9 lead, and the tone was set.
The break did nothing to cool their momentum. NWU continued to stamp their authority on every facet of the game, moving the ball with precision and punishing every turnover. At half-time the scoreboard read 44-17, and the match was already beyond the visitors’ reach.
The third quarter was more of the same. The champions kept their foot on the accelerator, stretching the advantage to 58-23 as the Madibaz struggled to string together any meaningful passages of play. The final quarter saw no let-up, with the Eagles closing out a comprehensive 74-31 result that would send a shiver through every team in the competition.
Christie-Marie Coetzee was deservedly named Player of the Match after a standout showing, leading from the front and setting the standard for an almost flawless team performance.
It was the perfect way to launch their title defence. Clinical, confident and in total control, the NWU Eagles have served notice that they are not here to make up the numbers. The champions are back, and they mean business.
