Marvellous Maties rout UCT
Maties ran in seven tries and were three minutes from not allowing UCT to score a try of their own, but a late Luke Stringer score saved Ikeys' blushes.
The match got off to a frenetic start as both sides looked for the early ascendency. Maties gave away a penalty close to the centre of the park and UCT took full advantage as flyhalf Thomas Bednall easily split the uprights from about 48 metres to hand the Ikeys a 3-0 lead.
It took Maties just four minutes to respond when, after some sustained pressure, John-Roy Jenkinson ran a perfect line off Ernst Stapelberg and the flyhalf's pop-pass saw the prop charge over the line for the first try of the match. Stapelberg added the extras to hand Maties a 7-3 lead.
UCT were dominating the breakdown and after some excellent work, found themselves rewarded with a penalty in kickable range and Bednall duly obliged as he split the uprights from 36 metres to make it a one point game after 12 minutes.
The high tempo continued throughout the half, with Maties dominating the possession. Their dominance eventually paid off dint he 23rd minute when, after some poor Ikeys defence inside their 22, Maties were able to throw the ball wide into the hands of Duncan Saal, who had an easy score. Stapelberg added the extras to extend their lead to 14-6.
It was all going the way of the Maroon Machine and they soon notched up their third try of the match. A dominant scrum on UCT's 22, saw the ball being sent through the hands and finding wing Edwill van der Merwe on the left. The wing gave a slight step and sprinted his way around three would-be defenders to dot down in the corner.
Stapelberg was unable to add the extras as Maties led 19-6 after 32 minutes.
Maties remained full of running as the half came to a conclusion and some excellent play by the Stellenbosch students saw them maintain continuity. After numerous phases, the ball was handed to Jenkinson, who stretched his way over the line to not only grab a seven-point try, but also the bonus points. Stapelberg easily added the extras to hand Maties a 28-6 lead after 39 minutes.
Ikeys found themselves trailing 6-31 after 43 minutes when Stapelberg slotted an easy penalty after UCT infringed inside their 22.
UCT could not find any rhythm in the match and chances were few and far between as they looked to make their way back into the contest. It went from bad to worse for them though as Kobus van Wyk grabbed his side's fifth try in the 55th minute.
The No.8 benefiting from sustained pressure on the Ikeys defence inside their 22. Stapelberg added his fourth conversion of the match to stretch the lead to 38-6.
UCT went all out to salvage some sort of pride and came within inches of bagging their first try of the match but a handling error stopped them in their tracks and Maties took full advantage. Braam Venter gathered the loose ball and offloaded to Jason Worral, who raced down the touchline.
Joel Smith's attempt to stop him was in vain as Craig Barry was on hand to receive a pass and jog over to grab the easy nine-point try. Christopher Smith popped over the conversion to extend Maties' lead to 49-6 after 70 minutes.
UCT were looking threatening on attack for the first time but yet another handling error led to van der Merwe scooping up a loose ball on his 22 and sprinting all the way to grab his second try of the match - another nine-point try. Smith added the extras as Maties led 60-6 with five minutes remaining on the clock.
Ikeys grabbed a consolation try in the 77th minute when Luke Stringer took a quick tap penalty and broke through Maties' defence from close range. Rob Anderson popped over the conversion.
The victory saw Maties retain their lead at the top of the standings while UCT are yet to claim a victory in the competition.
Scorers:
For Maties:
Tries: Jenkinson 2, Saal, van der Merwe 2, van Wyk, Barry
Cons: Stapelberg 4, Smith 2
Pen: Stapelberg
For UCT-Ikeys:
Try: Stringer
Con: Anderson
Pens: Bednall 2
Maties: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Paul Streicher, 12 Braam Venter, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Kobus van Wyk, 7 Janco Venter, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Craig Corbett, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Johan Momsen, 19 Saud Abrahams, 20 Geor Malan, 21 Christopher Smith, 22 Jason Worral, 23 JE van der Merwe.
UCT-Ikey Tigers: 15 Joel Smith, 14 Nathan Nel, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Rico Lategan, 11 Suwilanji Chibale, 10 Thomas Bednall, 9 Janse van Rensburg, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Jason Klaassen, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Jade Kriel, 3 David Maasch, 2 Brenton Greaves, 1 Joel Carew.
Replacements: 16 Sean Paterson, 17 Msizi Zondi, 18 Mark Prior, 19 Duncan Saffy, 20 Steven Wallace, 21 Rob Anderson, 22 Kofi Appiah, 23 Samuel Theron.
Referee: Archie Sehlako