Varsity Cup quick on the draw
There were two thrilling draws in an intense opening round of Varsity Cup action on Monday.
Cape rivals UCT and Maties ended deadlocked on 32-32 at a sold out Green Mile, whilst in Bloemfontein two-time champions UP-Tuks and UFS-Shimlas played out a 29-29 draw.
That means that UJ top the standings after Round One following their 46-10 demolition of newcomers CUT Ixias, and they are followed by NWU-Pukke who scored two late tries to secure a 36-26 victory over NMMU.
The first game of the tournament took place in Potchefstroom, and there was no shortage of drama with 10 tries, five yellow cards and a red card. In a match that could have gone either way hosts NWU-Pukke finished strongest to repeat their semifinal victory over the same opponents last year.
In the other semifinal replay down in Cape Town, Maties looked set to earn revenge for their two defeats to the Ikeys last year, but the defending champions fought back valiantly in front of their home crowd, and a late penalty try saw them salvage a tense draw.
In Bloemfontein CUT endured a baptism of fire as UJ ran in eight tries to cruise to victory, leaving the Ixias as the only team without a bonus point to show for their efforts in the opening round.
Across town at Shimla Park it was far more competitive as UFS-Shimlas and UP-Tuks traded blows throughout an entertaining match which saw them score four tries and three conversions each.
As the only two teams to record victories in Round One UJ and NWU-Pukke lead the way, with four teams tied for third place with three log points each heading into the second round next week.
In the second round of the Varsity Shield the UKZN Impi backed up their impressive win against UWC in Bellville last week by handing TUT Vikings a 68-5 hiding, whilst in Alice Wits made their return to the competition with a 42-24 victory over Fort Hare.
Visit the Varsity Cup website for the latest log standings.
All the scores and scorers!
Varsity Cup
NWU-Pukke 36-26 NMMU-Madibaz
For NWU-Pukke:
Tries: Smith, Beukman, Rudolph, Goliath, Stokes, Penalty try
Cons: Smith 2
For NMMU-Madibaz:
Tries: Velleman, Skosana, Adams, Ngam
Cons: Allerston 2
Yellow cards: Brian Skosana (NMMU, 28 - repeated breakdown infringements), Loftus Morrison (Pukke, 32 - not retreating 10 metres), Johnny Welthagen (Pukke, 57 - late tackle), Brian Skosana (NMMU, 72 - not ensuring the safety of defender under the high ball), Andisa Ntsila (NMMU, 80 - collapsing a maul)
Red Card: Brian Skosana (NMMU, 72 - second yellow card)
Teams:
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 Loftus Morrison, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Daniel Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Marno Redelinghuys, 19 Molotsi Bouwer, 20 Kurshwill Williams, 21 Warren Gilbert, 22 Heinrich Smith, 23 Cayle Denner.
NMMU: 15 Tythan Adams, 14 Brian Skosana, 13 Devon Lailivaux, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Yamkela Ngam, 10 Ruan Allerston, 9 Daniel Acker, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Wynand Grassmann, 6 Cyril-John Velleman (captain), 5 Robert Louw, 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Steven Robbeson, 2 Dane Van Der Westhuyzen, 1 Arno Ebersohn.
Replacements: 16 Warrick Venter, 17 Brenden Olivier,18 Rudolph Odendaal, 19 Ivan Du Preez, 20 Ivan Ludick, 21 Steven Hansel, 22 , 23 Marzuk Maarman.
Referees: Quinton Immelman, Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Willie Vos
CUT Ixias 10-41 UJ
For CUT:
Tries: Bitzi, Kouprihanoff
For UJ:
Tries: Porter 2, Dyantyi, penalty try, Qinisile, Oosthuizen 2, Fourie
Cons: Campbell 2
Teams:
CUT: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Luke Cyster, 13 Charles Hitchcock, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Mosego Toolo, 10 Naude Van Biljon, 9 Christiaan Erasmus, 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Dean Kouprihanoff, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Rayno Nel, 4 Daneel Botes, 3 Gerard Baard, 2 Anrich Bitzi, 1 Len Noort.
Replacements: 16 Theuns Truter, 17 Ian Smith, 18 Fanie Coetzer, 19 Victor Maruping, 20 Marius Grobler, 21 Jean-Claude Fourie, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Boetie Makethlo.
UJ: 15 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Andries Oosthuizen, 10 James Campbell, 9 Hilton Mudariki, 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 Chuma Faas, 21 Jaco Fourie, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Raeez Salie.
Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Local
UFS-Shimlas 29-29 UP-Tuks
For UFS-Shimlas:
Tries: Jordaan, Olivier, Dolo, Van Vuuren
Con: Marais 3
For UP-Tuks:
Tries: Britz, Matthews, Nell, Kriel
Cons: Stander 3
Teams:
UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 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 Elandre Huggett, 1 Hennie-Schalk Theron.
Replacements: 16 Marco Klopper, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Boela Venter, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 Stefan Janse van Rensburg, 22 JP Coetzee, 23 Conraad Van Vuuren.
UP-Tuks: 15 Riaan Britz, 14 Duncan Matthews, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Jan Enslin, 17 Nqobisiswe Mxoli, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 John Jackson, 23 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Referees: Lesego Legoete, Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Local
UCT Ikeys 32-32 Maties
For UCT Ikeys:
Tries: Sage, Prior, G Alexander, Penalty Try
Cons: Seals 4
For Maties:
Tries: Lewis 2, van Dyk, Barry
Cons: Stapelberg, Thomson 3
Teams:
UCT: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Dylan Sage, 13 Brendan Rodgers, 12 Guy Schwikkard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 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 Michael Kennedy, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tinotenda Zakeyo, 20 Ryan Dugmore, 21 Nicholas Holton, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Kyle Whyte.
Maties: 15 Mike Muller, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Wesley Adonis, 18 Grant Prior, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 John Hubert Meyer.
Referees: Francois Pretorius, Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Varsity Shield
UFH Blues 24-42 Wits
For UFH: TBC
For Wits:
Tries: Nkolo 2, Beckerling 2, Van Rensburg, Darnba
Cons: Hewit 3
Pen: Hewit
Teams:
UFH-Blues: 15 Khanyiso Komani, 14 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Siviwe Bisset, 11 Aziyena Mandaba, 10 Sivakele Ulana, 9 Khaya Siqoko, 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 Elandre Sias, 21 Akhona Matutu, 22 Hlubi Mvana, 24 Lusindiso Komo.
Wits: 15 Tommy Darnba, 14 Joshua Jarvis, 13 Alastair Ballantyne, 12 Adriaan Van Blerk, 11 Ish Nkolo, 10 Brandan Hewitt, 9 Ruan Van Rensburg, 8 Cameron Shafto, 7 Richard Crossman, 6 Constant Beckerling, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Ferdinand Kelly, 1 Brandon Palmer.
Replacements: 16 Chris Mills, 17 Ameer Williams, 18 Angus Gordon, 19 Ayabulela Mdudi, 20 Ruan Cloete, 21 Sibusiso Mngomenzulu 22 Luxolo Ntsepe, 23 Wazeer Desai.
UKZN Impi 68-5 TUT Vikings
For UKZN: TBC
For TUT: TBC
Teams:
UKZN-Impi: 15 Siphatisene Dube, 14 Yandisa Mdolomba, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Hendrik Lategan, 11 Shayne Makombe, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Adam Wessels, 7 Sanele Malwane, 6 Lwazi Ngcungama, 5 Johan Du Toit, 4 David Harel, 3 Sizwe Kubheka, 2 Chris De Beer, 1 Njabulo Mkize.
Replacements: 16 Mikyle Webster, 17 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana, 18 Michael Hutton, 19 Siyabonga Mhlongo, 20 Graham Koch, 21 Gavin Nyawata, 22 Sandile Zulu, 23 Matthew Mandioma.
TUT-Vikings: 15 Paul Walters, 14 Tovhowani Nefale, 13 Vian Riekert, 12 Edwin Oliver, 11 Nelis Snyman, 10 Dylan Du Buisson, 9 Shawn Jaards, 8 Claude Johannes, 7 Tiny Jordaan, 6 Mandla Mdaka, 5 Jaco Van Staden, 4 Armand Marshall, 3 James Frost, 2 Attie Joubert, 1 Wian Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 DK Mukendi, 17 JJ Burger, 18 Ross Middelcote, 19 Calvin Maduna, 20 Deon Joubert, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 RW Van der Wal, 23 Jean Claude Le Roux.