Big moves as Varsity Cup gathers momentum

UFS Shimlas dug deep for a well-earned victory at home over defending champions NWU Eagles.

Wet weather prevailed in the Western Cape - where Maties ran out victors over Wits, UCT Ikeys beat UJ and CUT handed UWC their third straight defeat.

All the Round Three action!

UFS SHIMLAS 35-26 NWU EAGLES

UFS Shimlas made it back-to-back wins by beating their big rivals NWU Eagles 35-26 in Bloemfontein. This was thanks to a last-second try by the replacement flanker, Henri van Heerden.

Shimlas took the lead in the 8th minute with the hard-working captain and lock, Pierre Uys, using his power to cross the line for a converted try. The inspirational Kwezi Dlamini doubled the lead for the home team following sustained pressure after a lineout.

Flank Siyambuka Ningiza rounded off a stunning point of origin try, which came from a brilliant cross-field kick by Shimla's flyhalf Ethan Wentzel as they raced to a 21-0 lead. Eagles hooker Chyle van Zyl managed to score for the visitors on the stroke of half-time following a strong lineout maul from a penalty.

It took 20 minutes for the points to be scored in the second half and that came via NWU tighthead prop, Ntobeko Shezi. Shimlas struck back minutes later through their winger, Siviwe Zondani.

Tries by Mpho Kubheka and Shaun-Christian Baxter saw the Eagles draw level at 26-26, but it was Van Heerden who stole the show with a stunning point-of-origin try to seal the victory for Shimlas.

SCORERS

For UFS Shimlas

Tries: Pierre Uys, Kwezi Dlamini, Siyambuka Ningiza, Siviwe Zondani, Henri van Heerden

Cons: Ethan Wentzel 3

For NWU Eagles

Tries: Chyle van Zyl, Ntobeko Shezi, Mpho Kubheka, Shaun-Christian Baxter

Cons: Zinedine Robinson 3

Player That Rocks: Jandré Nel (UFS Shimlas)

Teams

UFS Shimlas: 15 Avuyile Mabece, 14 Siviwe Zondani, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Gideon Jooste Nel, 11 Asanda Sihle Kunene, 10 Ethan SJ Wentzel, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Kwezi Dlamini, 7 Siyambuka Sobe Nakhane Ningiza, 6 Cornelius Hermanus Smit Volschenk, 5 Reinier Viljoen, 4 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 3 Riaan Jacobus van der Merwe, 2 Liyema Mgwigwi, 1 Ntokozo Hlophe.

NWU Eagles: 15 Shaun-Christian Baxter, 14 Keano Ricardo Windvogel, 13 Matthew Luke Fortuin, 12 Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, 11 Naiden Jaarts, 10 Zinedine Robinson, 9 Aphelele Emihle Madaka, 8 Calvin Clack, 7 Tian Van Zyl, 6 Hennie du Randt, 5 Franco Marais, 4 Stephan Krugel, 3 Ntobeko Thabiso Shezi, 2 Chyle Van Zyl, 1 Matome Molebogeng Manyama.

Referee: Dylen November

TMO: Egon Seconds

MATIES 23-12 WITS

Maties won a tight affair against Wits 23-12 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Maties drew first blood when Juan Mostert slotted a penalty after an early mistake from Wits. The visitors didn’t wait too long to get on the scoreboard though when Mark Snyman went over for an unconverted try

Just before half-time, the home team won a line out and drove towards the try line with Siya Ngubelanga making sure of the five-pointer. When the hooter sounded, it was Maties leading 8-5 in a low-scoring game.

The Maroon Machine started the second half on fire when a brilliant individual display by Juan Mostert inside at the 22m line led to Maties’ second try. The mauling magic of Maties continued when DeWet Marais rounded off a well-executed move to stretch the score to 20-5.

With just over ten minutes to go and as the rain started to pour down again, Witsies got one back when Marno Grobbelaar scored their second try.

SCORERS

For Maties

Tries: Siya Ngubelanga, Juan Mostert, DeWet Marais

Con: Mostert

Pens: Mostert 2

For Wits

Tries: Mark Snyman, Marno Grobbelaar

Player That Rocks: Juan Mostert (Maties)

Teams

Maties: 15 Louis Johannes Du Preez, 14 Ryan Marcus Manuel, 13 Hofmeyr Gideon Retief, 12 Aydon Colin Topley, 11 Matthew Emile Van Schalkwyk, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Mckyle Volmoer, 8 Roland Leonard van der Heever, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Eric Chris Basson, 5 Matthew Gray, 4 Matthys Jacobus Bernardus Kitshoff, 3 Friedrich Cornelius Weilbach, 2 Siyasanga Ngubelanga, 1 Prince Rotondwa Mulea.

WITS: 15 Setshaba Mohlakoane Mokoena, 14 Dustyn Matthew Holmes, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 12 Mark Dilan Snyman, 11 Kevon Nathan Simphiwe Chirwa, 10 Kabelo Mokhethi, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 7 Dewet-Grant Fourie, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Cal Smid, 4 George Lawson St Leger Devenish, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Marno Grobbelaar, 1 Elizee Kwitonda.

Referee: Jonathan Lottering

UCT IKEYS 32-21 UJ

It was a good match in difficult conditions for UCT Ikeys when they picked up their second win of the season following a 32-21 victory over UJ at the Green Mile in Cape Town.

Not much happened in the first five minutes of the match despite the home team attempting to force their way through the UJ defence.

It was a gutsy performance by the Orange Army as they continued to apply pressure that forced errors by the Ikeys. As a result, left-wing Prince Nkabinde stormed through the UCT backline and swung a pass to his captain Siyemukela Ndlovu who went over for a try. Rowan Malgas added extras taking his side to 7-0 after 14 minutes.

Six minutes later, the Tigers retaliated with a try courtesy of scrumhalf Riaan Genis, after the hosts got a lineout. Ntokozo Makhaza earlier slotted a penalty.

It didn’t take long before tighthead prop John Okonkwo scored a second try for UCT after UJ was penalised for not rolling away after a tackle. Makhaza added two points as the home side moved to 17-7.

A try by centre Jonathan Roche and another successful conversion by Makhaza had Ikeys leading 24-7 at half-time.

With rain pouring down in the second half, UCT used the wet conditions to their advantage with the ball passing through the backline and Makhaza as he dove over in the corner to make it 29-7.

UJ outside centre Sfiso Dlamini scored a seven-pointer try after his forwards won the ball from a rolling maul. Malgas added extras taking the score to 29-16.

It didn’t take long for Nkabinde to extend UJ's score with another try. He got a pass after his forwards worked hard to overcome the UCT scrum in front of Tigers poles. The score was 29-21 after 58 minutes.

But in the end, the match was easy for the UCT side, Makhaza kicked in for three points after UJ penalised obstruction.

SCORERS

For UCT Ikeys

Tries: Riaan Genis, John Okonkwo, Jonathan Roche, Ntokozo Makhaza

Cons: Ntokozo Makhaza 4

Pens: Makhaza 2

For UJ

Tries: Siyemukela Ndlovu, Prince Nkabinde 2, Sfiso Dlamini

Cons: Rowan Malgas 2

Player That Rocks: Jonathan Roche (UCT Ikeys)

Teams

UCT Ikeys: 15 Duran Ryan Koevort, 14 Rihaz Fredericks, 13 Rethabile Donovan Louw, 12 Thomas Nel, 11 Jonathan Roche, 10 Ntokozo Sibusiso Makhaza, 9 Alexander Vermeulen, 8 Riaan Genis, 7 Reynhardt Crous, 6 Laro Delport, 5 Siphumezo Dyonase, 4 Enos Ndiao, Johan van Rhyn, 3 John Kelly Ifechukwu Okonkwo, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Mhleli Khethuxolo Khuzwayo.

UJ: 15 Boldwin Hansen, 14 Meyer Kriel, 13 Sfiso Perseverance Dlamini, 12 Likhona Finca, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Rowan Malgas, 9 Kgothatso Sono, 8 Siyemukela Samukelo Ndlovu, 7 Philip Apea Adu, 6 Athi Galada, 5 Connor Van Buuren, 4 Marius Coetzee, 3 Roedolf Fouche Schoeman, 2 Mauritz Swart, 1 Heiko Peter Eugene Pohlmann.

Referee: Sean Muller

CUT 38-21 UWC

CUT prevailed 38-21 against hosts UWC in a wet, rain-soaked and error-ridden encounter at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town. The half-time score was 33-7.

As would be expected when torrents of rain bucket down on a rugby field, there were plenty of errors. But that didn’t prevent the Ixias from scoring two tries (Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith) within 15 minutes and racing to a 14-point lead.

The period following the first-half strategy break was a discipline nightmare for UWC with three yellow cards and a red card in quick succession. The relentless pressure CUT was applying paid dividends.

The visitors added three more tries before the halftime siren with Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, and Asekho Marubelela all getting their name added to the try-scoring sheet.

Stand-in Udubs captain, Romuad Nsombamanya, who took over the leadership from injured Tasriq Mynhardt, scored the hosts' only first-half try with Wian van der Sandt adding the extras off the tee.

Despite a valiant effort and two late second-half tries from UWC, they left it too late. This was Paul Treu's third consecutive loss in their return to the Varsity Cup fold.

The scorers

For UWC

Tries: Romuad Nsombamanya, Keanuh Michaels, Conwill Conradie

Cons: Wian van der Sandt, Conradie 2

For CUT

Tries: Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith, Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, Asekho Marubelela, Raydon Swartbooi

Cons: Smith 3

Player That Rocks: Liam Prinsloo (CUT)

Teams

UWC: 15 Jean Jacques van Schalkwyk, 14 Will Bradford Vraagom, 13 Emile Silvis, 12 Bryan John Breda, 11 Hlomla Ncana, 10 Nhlamulo Emmanuel Shilubane, 9 Wian Van der Sandt, 8 Tyrone Farren Maritz, 7 Louan De Lange, 6 Romuad Nsombamanya, 5 Carel Van der Merwe, 4 Michail Kasfikis, 3 Keanuh Cameron Michaels, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Hlonela Qelile.

CUT: 15 Natanael Young, 14 Adielson Gouveia, 13 Liam Prinsloo, 12 Septimus Dercksen, 11 Zachery Bester, 10 Juan Arnold Smith, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 8 Tjaart Jurie Van der Walt, 7 Jacobus Johannes Cloete, 6 Tsebano Edward Stemer, 5 Kevin Strydom, 4 Asekho Phindile Marubelela, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 2 Albertus Human Venter, 1 Mamello Moshoaliba.

Referee: Ruhan Meiring

TMO: Quinton Immelman

Source: @varsitycup