Under the floodlights, time stands still. Spikes in adrenaline are accompanied by pounding heartbeats and cheering crowds. This was the scene on the night of 4 February 2017 when the NWU’s cricket team beat the University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) and became the first ever university to simultaneously be the Varsity Cup cricket, rugby and netball champions.

 

The NWU’s hat trick started on 11 April 2016 when Alfred Hitchcock movie-like tension ran high during the Varsity Cup rugby final.

 

Facing Stellenbosch University (Maties) in Stellenbosch and trailing 6-0 with time running out, the NWU camped on Maties’ tryline for what felt like forever and a day. Penalty after penalty was conceded, scrums were reset more often than a faulty computer and NWU supporters were begging for a penalty try.

 

The breakthrough finally came eight minutes into extra time when the NWU’s Marno Redelinghuys burst over the line for the winning try, which Ryno Smith converted.

 

Defending their crown

The NWU took the next step towards their hat trick when its netball team successfully defended their Varsity Cup netball crown on 17 October 2016 by beating UP-Tuks 56-55 in an absolute thriller of an encounter in Pretoria.

 

Winning these three finals is an unprecedented trifecta of brilliance and, coupled with the Varsity Athletics win the NWU shared with UP-Tuks in 2015, makes the NWU one of Varsity Sport’s most respected competitors.

 

Dedication is the name of the game

James Stoffberg, director of sport at the Potchefstroom Campus, says he is immensely proud of all the teams and their continued excellence.

 

“It speaks to the dedication of our coaching teams and their willingness to succeed. I want to make special mention of our head coaches Conrad de Swardt (cricket), Dorette Badenhorst (netball) and Jonathan Makoena (rugby). Through their mentorship and expertise they ensure that the North-West University continues to build on its various successes,” he says.