Maties smash hapless 'Madibas'
FNB Maties continued their unbeaten run in this year's Varsity Cup after they thrashed NMMU 58-3 in Stellenbosch on Monday afternoon.
The Stellenbosch students ran in seven tries as they increased their points tally to 27 at the top of the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International log.
Maties No.8 Cameron Peverett displayed an industrious performance while his opposite number, Jaco Swanepoel, also worked tirelessly with very little support from his teammates.
Maties dominated possession for the entire match and the visitors were unable to match their speed and intensity at a simmering Danie Craven Stadium.
Scrumhalf Donald Stevens - the top points-scorer in the Varsity Cup - opened the scoring for the defending champions with a penalty after six minutes. Shortly after, centre Paul Bosch crossed for the first try. Stevens converted and added another penalty to give Maties a 13-0 at the first water break.
'Madibas' flyhalf Willem Laubscher slotted a penalty to put them on the scoreboard but Maties increased their lead with JJ Engelbrecht finishing off a lovely team effort just before the half-time break. Stevens added the extras to give Maties a 23-3 lead at half-time.
Maties started the second half much like the first with Stevens dotting down with less than two minutes gone.
While Maties completely dominated the game they were guilty of throwing too many 50/50 passes and if some of it went to hand it would have meant a much bigger scoreline. They were also frequently penalised for going off their feet at the breakdown, but NMMU were unable to capitalise on it.
Maties secured their bonus point in the 55th minute when Wilhelm Loock chased down a clever cross-kick to score in the corner. Engelbrecht then grabbed his second try, while flank Jonathan Adendorf also crossed the whitewash shortly after.
Engelbrecht was in the action once again when he grabbed his hat-trick of tries just before the full-time whistle to give Maties an emphatic 58-3 victory.
The scorers:
For Maties:
Tries: Bosch,Stevens, Loock, Engelbrecht 3, Adendorf
Con: Stevens 6, Osman
Pen: Stevens 3
For NMMU
Pen: Laubscher
The teams:
FNB Maties: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Wilhelm Loock , 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Jéan Stemmet, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Jason de Villiers, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Cameron Peverett, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Chase Minnaar, 5 Jaco Nepgen (captain), 4 Marinus Pretorius, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 JP Koster, 17 Mike De Neuilly-Rice, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Morné Hanekom, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Dabeon Draghoender, 22 Lwellyn Winkler.
FNB NMMU: 15 Jade Barkhysen, 14 Oscher Mazaka, 13 Daniel Howitz, 12 Devon Melville, 11 Aluzant Munnik, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Lusu Booi, 8 Jaco Swanepoel, 7 André Goosen, 6 Morné van der Westhuyzen (captain), 5 Jacques Naude, 4 Luke Beling, 3 Pierre Hammond, 2 Allistair Langson, 1 Tyron Williams.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Slabbert, 17 Frans van der Walt, 18 Jannie Fourie, 19 January Siyabulela, 20 Neil Weitz, 21 Lalendle Ayabonga, 22 Wade Roos.