Tuks lay down a big marker

Table-topping UP-Tuks made a big statement with a comprehensive 53-8 victory over three-time Varsity Cup champions Maties in Pretoria on Monday.

The two-time champions scored seven tries in front of their home crowd to retain their place at the top of the standings, one log point ahead of UFS-Shimlas who are the only other unbeaten side left in the competition after Round Three.

UFS-Shimlas ran riot in the first-ever Varsity Cup Bloemfontein derby, handing local rivals CUT a big 57-0 defeat in terrible conditions at the CUT Rugby Stadium.

UJ moved past NWU-Pukke into third place after earning a hard-fought 10-8 win against them in Johannesburg, while defending champions UCT retained the Monte Taljaard trophy with a comfortable 40-13 victory over NMMU on a windy Green Mile.

It was the first defeat of the season for NWU-Pukke, who fought back well but had to be content with a bonus point against UJ, who showed plenty of heart to hang on for the win under pressure and bounce back from defeat to UFS-Shimlas at home last week.

In Bloemfontein the only thing standing in UFS-Shimlas' way was the inclement weather, with play briefly suspended at the start of the second half due to a thunderstorm, but even that could not stop them from running in nine tries against their cross-town rivals CUT.

Conditions also played a big role in Cape Town, with the notorious wind on the Green Mile making things tricky in the coastal clash between UCT and NMMU, but the Ikeys were in a different class on the night - outscoring the Madibaz by five tries to two in the end.

That leaves the defending champions UCT in fifth position, just one log point behind NWU-Pukke whose bonus point in Johannesburg was enough to see them stay in the top four with both teams picking up a win, a draw and a loss from their first three games.

In the final match of the night UP-Tuks handed Maties their first defeat of the season following consecutive draws against UCT and NWU-Pukke, leaving the Stellenbosch side down in seventh place behind NMMU on points difference.

In the Varsity Shield, UWC fought back bravely to salvage a thrilling 37-37 draw with the unbeaten Wits, and UKZN proved too strong for Fort Hare, picking up a 21-13 win in Alice.

The first round of the Varsity Young Guns competition saw UFS notch a big 44-8 win against CUT, while in Pretoria two-time champions UP-Tuks beat the UCT Trojans 45-20 and in Johannesburg NWU-Pukke registered a 37-29 win against UJ.

The Koshuisrugby Championship also got underway on Monday, with Vishuis from UFS beating Bloemfontein rivals Tigers 36-12, Bastion from UJ earning a 12-7 win against Cobras on the Green Mile and Mopanie picking up a valuable 44-34 win against Medies in Pretoria.

All the scores and scorers!

Varsity Cup

CUT-Ixias 0-57 UFS-Shimlas

For CUT: None

For Shimlas:

Tries: Williams, Olivier 2, Klopper, Maqina 2, Maartens 2, Jordaan

Cons: Marais 4

Yellow Card: Gerard Baard (CUT, 40 - repeated infringements), Boetie Makethlo (CUT, 75 - breakdown infringement)

Teams:

CUT-Ixias: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Jessie du Toit, 13 Ali Mgijima, 12 Duan Pretorius, 11 Mosego Toolo, 10 Luke Cyster, 9 Christiaan Erasmus, 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Jean-Claude Fourie, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Rayno Nel, 4 Fanie Coetzer, 3 Ian Smith, 2 Len Noort, 1 Gerard Baard.

Replacements: 16 Jozua de Jager, 17 Niel Schoombee, 18 Daneel Botes, 19 Victor Maruping, 20 Arrie Vosloo, 21 Dean Kouprihanoff, 22 Naude van Biljon, 23 Boetie Makethlo.

UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Arthur Williams, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Niel Claassen, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Marco Klopper, 1 Theuns Neuwoudt.

Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Boela Venter, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 Stefan Janse van Rensburg, 22 JP Coetzee, 23 Conraad Van Vuuren.

UCT-Ikeys 40-13 NMMU-Madibaz

For UCT:

Tries: Seals, J Alexander, G Alexander, Klaasen, Stringer

Cons: Seals 5

For NMMU:

Tries: Penalty try, Louw

Con: Buys

UCT: 15 Paul Cohen, 14 Dylan Sage, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Nicholas Holton, 11 Khanyo Ngcukana, 10 Warren Seals, 9 James Alexander, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (captain), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.

Replacements: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 Kyle White, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Luke Stringer, 20 Ryan Dugmore, 21 Guy Schwikkard, 22 Dean Gericke, 23 David Maasch.

NMMU-Madibaz: 15 Jarryd Buys (captain), 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Andile Jho, 12 Devon Lailvaux, 11 Brian Skosana, 10 Ruan Allerston, 9 Daniel Acker, 8 Ivan-John Du Preez, 7 Stephan Zaayman, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Rob Louw, 4 Paul Tyler, 3 Steven Robesson, 2 Dane van der Westerhuizen, 1 Arno Ebersohn.

Replacements: 16 Warrick Venter, 17 Brenden Olivier, 18 Wynand Grassman, 19 Jody Reyneke, 20 Ivan Ludick, 21 Creswin Josephs, 22 Khaya Malotana, 23 Marzuq Maarman.

UJ 10-8 NWU-Pukke

For UJ:

Try: Petersen

Con: Fourie

Pen: Fourie

For NWU-Pukke:

Try: Smith

Con: Smith

UJ: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Aphiwe Dyanti, 10 Jaco Fourie, 9 Chuma Faas, 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Kyle Van Dalen, 6 Kobus Porter (captain), 5 David Antonites, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Siphatho Qinisile, 1 Gareth Milasinovich.

Replacements: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Brandon Landsberg, 18 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 19 Wiaan Conradie, 20 Hilton Mudarika, 21 James Campbell, 22 Dominic Kroezen, 23 Raeez Salie.

NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Marno Redelinguys, 6 Molotsi Bouwer, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Jaco Buys, 20 Kurshwill Williams, 21 Marnus Tack, 22 Heinrich Smith, 23 Cayle Denner.

UP-Tuks 53-8 Maties

For UP-Tuks:

Tries: Kirsten, Liebenberg, Hugo, Smith, Human, Kleinsmith, Mxoli

Cons: Stander 6

For Maties:

Try: Lewis

Con: Thomson

Teams:

UP-Tuks: 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Riaan Britz, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Daniel Kriel, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Rudolph Smith, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Jan Enslin, 17 Nqobisiswe Mxoli, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Clyde Davids, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 John Jackson, 23 Neethling Fouche.

Maties: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Brandon Asher-Wood, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.

Replacements: 16 Neethling Gericke, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Janco Venter, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Ernst Stapelberg, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 Jacobus van der Merwe.

Varsity Shield

UFH 13-21 UKZN

For UFH:

Tries: Manentsa, Bisset

Con: Getye

For UKZN:

Tries: Radebe, Marais 2

Con: Radebe 2

Teams:

UFH: 15 Siviwe Bisset, 14 Saneliso Getye, 13 Lundi Ralarala (captain), 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Akhona Matutu, 10 Khanyiso Komani, 9 Elandre Sias, 8 Athenkosi Manentsa, 23 Madoda Ludidi, 6 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 5 Sibusiso Sityebi, 4 Lwando Nteta, 3 Olwethu Mputla, 2 Sesethu Time, 1 Lwando Mabenge.

Replacements: 16 Lutho Klaas, 17 Zanoxolo Qwele, 18 Athenkosi Makeleni, 19 Malusi Vula, 20 Khaya Siqoko, 21 Sivakele Ulana, 22 Hlubi Mvana, 24 Lusindiso Komo.

UKZN: 15 Siphatisene Dube, 14 Yandisa Mdolomba, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Hendrik Lategan, 11 Shayne Makombe, 10 Innocent Radebe, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Lwazi Ngcungama (captain), 7 Sanele Malwane, 6 Retief Marais, 5 Christiaan van der Merwe, 4 David Harel, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Mikyle Webster, 1 Njabulo Mkize.

 Replacements:  16 Matthew Mandioma, 17 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana, 18 Kwezi Puza, 19 Siyabonga Mhlongo, 20 Langelihle Shange, 21 Gavin Nyawata, 22 Sandile Zulu, 23 Sizwe Kubheka.

WITS 37-37 UWC

For Wits:

Tries: Pupuma, Ntsepe, Williams, Damba, Beckerling

Cons: Hewitt 4

For UWC:

Tries: Langeveldt, Verity-Amm 3, Austin

Cons: Stevens 2, Langeveldt 2

Teams:

Wits: 15 Tommy Damba, 14 Joshua Jarvis, 13 Marx Koch, 12 Adriaan Van Blerk, 11 Luxulo Ntsepe, 10 Brandan Hewitt, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Cameron Shafto, 7 Richard Crossman (captain), 6 Constant Beckerling, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Ferdinand Kelly, 1 Ameer Williams.

Replacements: 16 Chris Mills, 17 Brandon Palmer, 18 Angus Gordon, 19 Ben Baggot, 20 Sibu Mngomezulu, 21 Alastair Ballantyne, 22 Sicelo Champion, 23 Tijde Visser.

UWC: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Gavian Cloete, 13 Dean Herbert, 12 Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes, 11 James Verity-Amm, 10 Quaid Langeveldt, 9 Damien Stevens, 8 Darren Luiters, 7 Jose Julies (captain), 6 Matthew Faught, 5 Stuart Austin, 4 Brandon Valentyn, 3 Gustav Heydenrych, 2 Wayron Losper, 1 Tahriq Allen.

Replacements: 16 Lifa Ghana, 17 Brandon Beukman, 18 Heynes Kotze, 19 Mitch Lingeveldt, 20 Clayton Daniels, 21 Keanu Langeveldt, 22 Herman Share, 23 Kelvin De Bruyn.

Varsity Young Guns

CUT 8-44 UFS

For CUT Young Guns:

Try: Mokoena

Con: Van Zyl

For UFS Young Guns:

Tries: Van Vuuren, Pretorius, Rautenbach, Wessels, Jordaan, Erasmus, A Pretorius

Cons: Rautenbach, Jordaan 2

Teams:

CUT Young Guns: 15 Danneel Stone, 14 Tsobi Madonsela, 13 Rohan de Clerk, 12 Jacques Nel, 11 Lethole Mokoena, 10 Tokkie van Zyl, 9 Diederik Oberholzer, 8 Lohan Potgieter, 7 Gerrit Otto, 6 Isiah Bila, 5 Sylvester Makakole, 4 Johann Strydom, 3 Kyle Ess, 2 Stefan Jacobs, 1 AJ Page.

Replacements: 16 Chompie Moloi, 17 Hennie du Plessis, 18 Morne Griessel, 19 Danie Muller, 20 Juan-Pierre le Roux, 21 Ruan Wasserman, 22 Thiardt Ingram, 23 Thabo Chirwa.

UFS Young Guns: 15 Apiwe Dinga, 14 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 13 Julian Jordaan, 12 Stephen Rautenbach, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 Dwayne Wessels, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Daniel Nyamugama, 7 De Wet Bezuidenhoudt, 6 Benji van Vuuren, 5 Andries Kriek (captain), 4 Ntokoza Vidima, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Johan Kotze.

Replacements: 16 Henry Slabbert, 17 WP Eloff, 18 Lawrence Danso, 19 Nardus Erasmus, 20 Arrie Pretorius, 21 Neil Stannard, 22 Dale Koopman, 23 Thabiso Khanye.

UP-Tuks 45-20 UCT-Trojans

For Tuks YG:

Tries: Maebane 2, de Vos, X van Wyk, K van Wyk, De Beer

Cons: De Beer 5

For UCT Trojans:

Tries: Stone, Qaba

Cons: Martin 2

Pens: Martin 2

Teams:

UP-Tuks Young Guns: 15 Rueben de Vos, 14 Keanan van Wyk, 13 Peet Schoeman, 12 Adriaan Maebane, 11 Corne de Klerk, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Theo Maree, 8 Luigy van Jaarsveld, 7 Marco van Staaden, 6 Jeandre Swanepoel, 5 Adriaan Brits, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Stephan Ebersohn, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Xander van Wyk

Replacements: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Sam Mitchell, 19 Desmond Stramis, 20 Impi Visser, 21 Lourens Pretorius, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Jacobus Holtzhauzen.

UCT Young Guns: 15 Karl Martin, 14 Jesse Wilensky, 13 Benjamin Dovey, 12 Robert Ball, 11 Adams Ibrahim, 10 Shane Fourie, 9 Stefano de Gouveia, 8 Matthew Andrews, 7 Aphiwe Qaba, 6 Devon Stone, 5 Nyasha Tarusenga, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Alexander Goldstein, 2 Struan Murray, 1 Daniel Russel.

Replacements: 16 Niven Poleman, 17 Keagan Timm, 18 Stuart Stopforth, 19 Hishaam Davids, 20 Michael Henning, 21 Evan Frylinck, 22 Rayno Mapoe, 23 Wahl Enslin.

UJ 29-37 NWU-Pukke

For UJ Young Guns:

Tries: Vermaak, Ngwenya, Ramaboea, Roelofse

Cons: Engelbrecht 3

For NWU-Pukke Young Guns:

Tries: J Van Deventer, Schoeman 3, Kuhn

Cons: Masuku 3, Delicado

Teams:

UJ Young Guns: 15 Kobus Engelbrecht, 14 George Raftopoulus, 13 Godfrey Ramaboea (captain), 12 Johan Vermaak, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lazlo Rabatin, 9 Ralton Ocktober, 8 Jo-Hanco de Villiers, 7 James Venter, 6 Juandre van der Walt, 5 Kevin du Randt, 4 Wayne Pearson, 3 Kyle Kruger, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Phillip Barnard.

Replacements: 16 Chistopher Roelofse, 17 Siya Nzuzo, 18 Estian Enslin, 19 Drian Bester, 20 Derick Bezuidenhout, 21 Christoff Buys, 22 Lindo Ngcobo, 23 Thapelo Rapelwana.

NWU-Pukke Young Guns: 15 Lecander Salies, 14 Rudi Pieters, 13 Elden Schoeman, 12 Gene Willemse, 11 Zweli Silaule, 10 Siyabonga Masuku, 9 Wessel Kuhn, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout (captain, 7 Dolf van Deventer, 6 Jeandré van Deventer, 5 Jaco Swanepoel, 4 Joshua van Niekerk, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Gerrie le Roux, 1 Francois Jacobs.

Replacements: 16 Casper Aucamp, 17 Komape Moloto, 18 Wessel Steyn, 19 Thando Magalakangqa, 20 Eugene Hare, 21 Julian Delicado, 22 Tapiwa Mafura, 23 Röan Grobbelaar.

Koshuisrugby Championship

Cobras 7-12 Bastion

For Cobras:

Try: Rabie

For Bastion:

Tries: Olivier, Branco

Teams:

Cobras: 15 Ty Wills, 14 Luca Giuricich, 13 Anthony van Ryneveld, 12 Zukile Ncube, 11 Zukile Dube, 10 Robert Anderson, 9 Nicholas Lassen, 8 Sean Paterson, 7 Jordan Artus, 6 Robert Inskip, 5 Luke Kuhn, 4 James Pagden, 3 Kiernan Rabie, 2 Martin Chandler, 1 Samuel Theron.

Replacements: 16 Chris Sexwhale, 17 Tom van As, 18 Oliver Neil, 19 Luke Leach, 20 Justin Rowe-Roberts, 21 Gareth Theessen, 22 Bradley Janse van Rensberg, 23 Zahil Jackerspad.

Bastion: 15 Ruan Claasen, 14 Jarrod Branco, 13 Micheal Bean, 12 Martin Eichstadt, 11 Lwazi Sithole, 10 Machiel Mostert, 9 Cornel Vermeulen, 8 Zane Olivier, 7 Diederik Du Plessis, 6 Raymond Herron, 5 Njabulo Madondo, 4 Rico van Niekerk, 3 Tshepiso Thithi, 2 Jason Gradidge, 1 Hienrich Pretorius.

Replacements: 16 Dwaynne Marx, 17 Sean Koeberg, 18 Gareth Hardie, 19 Phenyo Seriteng, 20 Lungelo Masondo, 21 Olebugeng Lithuli, 22 Claude van der Wath, 23 Tseppo Kubeka.

Mopanie 44-34 Medies

For Mopanie:

Tries: Weyers, van Rooyen 3, Alberts, Landman, Bezuidenhout

Cons: Alberts 3

For Medies:

Tries: Viljoen, Smit, van Staden, Oberholster, Du Toit

Cons: du Preez 3

Teams:

Mopanie: 15 Lourens Weyers, 14 Werner Gous, 13 Ruan van Rooyen, 12 Wynand Bezuidenhout, 11 Ruben Opperman, 10 Dean Alberts, 9 Albert Joubert, 8 Hein Schoeman, 7 Christiaan du Toit, 6 Stephan Smith, 5 Wihan Landman, 4 Herman Oosthuizen, 3 Helgaart Gous, 2 Lean van der Walt, 1 Tiaan Heenop.

Replacements: 16 Andreas de Lange, 17 Ben-Louis de Wet, 18 Rynhardt Bezuidenhout, 19 Pieter Erasmus, 20 Zander Cronje, 21 Michael Snyman, 22 Charl van der Merwe, 23 Wihan Barnard.

Medies: 15 Joe van Zyl, 14 Stiffie du Toit, 13 Gys Neethling, 12 Jurgens Terblanche, 11 Kurtley du Plessis, 10 Johan du Preez, 9 Andrich Arlow, 8 Attie Oberholster, 7 Le Roux Viljoen, 6 Jean-Jacques Jordaan, 5 Ruan van Staden, 4 Louw Naude, 3 Oros de Wet, 2 Du Toit Visser, 1 Reese Keene.

Replacements: 16 Pierre de Villiers, 17 Trompie Tromp, 18 Adriaan Smit, 19 Maans Lintvelt, 20 Tommie van der Merwe, 21 Otter Smit, 22 Gerhard Steenkamp, 23 Anrich Gericke.

Tigers 12-36 Vishuis

For Tigers:

Tries: Van Wyk, Olivier

Pen: Pretorius

For Vishuis:

Tries: Kachelhoffer, Bosman, Van Der Merwe, Van Wyk, Bornman, Ries

Cons: Posthumus 2

Teams:

Tigers: TBC

Vishuis: TBC