UJ win ... at last

VARSITY CUP WRAP: Maties claimed an important 31-24 victory against UP-Tuks at Loftus Versfeld on Thursday.

There were also Round Four wins for NWU, UCT, CUT and UJ.

NWU EAGLES 28 (13) UWC 15 (3)

NWU dominated territory and possession to win their first match of the second bubble at the Tuks B-Field.

The Eagles relied heavily on their forwards and hooker Gustav du Rand found the tryline off the back of the maul early on.

Scrumhalf Branden de Kock slotted a penalty for Udubs, before NWU scored their second try through lock Jeandré Leonard.

Flyhalf Keagan Fortune missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to make it 13-3 at half-time.

The start of the second half was dominated by NWU's forwards, with No 8 André Fouché going over for their third try.

Left wing Lungi Msenge’s converted point-of-origin try put Udubs back within striking distance of the Eagles at 20-15.

But NWU No 11 Charl Pretorius took the game away from them when he scored his team’s bonus-point try.

Fortune then kicked a penalty after UWC winger André Manuel had been sent to the sin bin for the remainder of the game.

Player That Rocks: Jeandré Leonard (NWU Eagles)

The scorers

For NWU Eagles

Tries: Du Rand, Leonard, Fouché, Pretorius

Con: Fortune

Pens: Fortune 2

For UWC

Try: Msenge (seven-point try)

Con: De Kock

Pens: De Kock 2

Teams

NWU Eagles: 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Keano Windvogel, 13 Lincoln Daniels (captain), 12 Marco Donges, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 André Fouché, 7 Jandré de Beer, 6 Chris Vermaak, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Komape Moloto.

Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Abraham Baumann, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 Didintle Sekati, 21 Riaan Genis, 22 Nivan Petersen, 23 Pienaar van Niekerk.

UWC: 15 Tiaan Henecke, 14 André Manuel, 13 Aydon Topley, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Johannes van Biljon, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Tinotenda Mavesere, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Romuald Nsombamanya, 5 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel (captain), 4 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Luvo Bazi.

Replacements: 16 Mauritz Swart, 17 Ebrahiem Davids, 18 Reece Bocks, 19 Hendrik Carstens, 20 Conwill Conradie, 21 Gilroy Lee Philander, 22 Thristan Valentyn, 23 Riaan van der Merwe.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

UFS SHIMLAS 5 (5) UCT IKEYS 59 (31)

UCT remained unbeaten as they scored eight tries against Shimlas at Loftus Versfeld.

It certainly didn't help that Shimlas were red-carded twice although they returned to their full complement after two sets of 15 minutes in accordance with Varsity Cup law variations.

Ikeys were ruthless throughout the first half as they attacked Shimlas’ fringe defence at will but it was the men from Bloemfontein who scored first as silky hands across the backline put fullback Cham Zondeki over in the corner.

This proved to be the last time they would threaten the scoreboard as UCT switched gears and crossed the chalk on four occasions. Lock Connor Evans and fullback Athi Gazi bagged five-pointers while wing Rethabile Louw finished two brilliant point-of-origin tries which, along with flyhalf James Tedder's two conversions and a penalty, inflated the score to 31-5 at the break.

The second half started off with a bang as Gazi crossed for his brace in a spectacular point-of-origin try before the match dissolved into an untidy affair.

UFS Shimlas did well to halt the juggernaut for a while but couldn't contain the near incessant phases of attack by UCT Ikeys as they dotted down a further three tries courtesy of outside centre Evardi Boshoff, replacement flyhalf David Hayes and No 8 Christian Stehlik.

Player That Rocks: Neil Otto (UCT Ikeys)

The scorers

For UFS Shimlas

Try: Zondeki

For UCT Ikeys

Tries: Evans, Louw (two seven-point tries), Gazi (one five-point try and one seven-point try), Boshoff, Hayes, Stehlik

Cons: Tedder 2, Brink 3

Pen: Tedder

Teams:

UFS Shimlas: 15 Cham Zondeki, 14 Luyanda Mkhize, 13 Shayne Bolton, 12 Janco Klinck, 11 Francois Agenbag, 10 JP Duvenage, 9 Rewan Kruger (captain), 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Uzile Tele, 6 Kamohelo Chabana, 5 Thabang Mahlasi, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 Tshepo Nchabeng, 2 Carl Wijburg, 1 Johan Schutte.

Replacements: 16 William Moffat, 17 Daniel Wessels, 18 Henty Beukes, 19 George Rossouw, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Hlumelo Klaas, 22 Ethan Wentzel, 23 Ayabonga Matroos.

UCT Ikeys: 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Michael Brink, 11 Liam Kloosman, 10 James Tedder, 9 William Rose, 8 Christian Stehlik, 7 Neil Otto, 6 Liam Greenhalgh (captain), 5 Connor Evans, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Devon Arendse, 1 Luthando Woji.

Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Phelelani Zuma, 18 Marvin Christians, 19 Byron Bowes, 20 Byron Cranswick, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 David Hayes, 23 Duran Koevort.

Referee: Dylan November

WITS 11 (11) CUT IXIAS 19 (7)

Winless Wits came into this match as heavy underdogs but pushed unbeaten CUT all the way at the Tuks B-Field.

Wits matched their opponents in strength and speed but fell apart in the last 20 minutes of the game to hand the Ixias their fourth consecutive victory.

Wits flyhalf Christian Humphries kicked an early penalty before CUT hooker Janus Venter scored a converted try off the back of a maul.

Wits responded with a try to hooker and captain Justin Brandon, and Humphries added a penalty to put them 11-7 ahead at half-time.

The Ixias forced themselves back into the game when flank and captain Luvuyo Ndevu barged over the tryline and flyhalf Charles Williams kicked the conversion.

Straight after the strategy break, CUT used their maul to edge further ahead when Venter got his second to make it 19-11.

Wits lost possession in a maul close to the Ixias tryline and while CUT fullback Cohen Jasper was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, it didn’t prove costly for his team.

Player That Rocks: Hans Terblanche (CUT)

The scorers

For Wits

Try: Brandon

Pens: Humphries 2

For CUT Ixias:

Tries: Venter 2, Ndevu

Cons: Williams 2

Teams

Wits: 15 Jimmy Mpailane, 14 Gerswin Mouton, 13 Ngia Selengbe, 12 Aidynn Cupido, 11 Matthew Mcdonald, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Phillip Krause, 7 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 6 Constant Beckerling, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Justin Brandon (captain), 1 Bhekisa Shongwe.

Replacements: 16 Mulalo Sadiki, 17 Jason Cloete, 18 Ebot Buma, 19 William Thomson, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Mark Snyman, 22 Runaldo Pedro, 23 Kurt Webster.

CUT Ixias: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout, 11 Ricoman Titus, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Luvuyo Ndevu (captain), 6 Hans Terblanche, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Matthew Sekele, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Eddie Davids.

Replacements: 16 Wandré Nortjé, 17 Tebogo Masemola, 18 Thabiso Msiza, 19 Bennett Nortjé, 20 Francois Bester, 21 Xander Botha, 22 Jandré de Beer, 23 Emilio Adonis.

Referee: Divan Uys

MADIBAZ 22 (5) UJ 33 (24)

UJ broke their 11-match Varsity Cup losing streak as they saw off the Madibaz a highly competitive meeting at Loftus Versfeld.

An early UJ penalty courtesy of flyhalf Jurich Claasens was followed by a try to Madibaz captain fantastic Luyolo Dapula.

The lock’s efforts galvanised the Orange Army into action as they crossed the chalk via flank Brendon Pawson, hooker Darnell Osuagwe and lock Lunga Ncube with Claasens converting all three to provide a comfortable 24-5 lead at the break.

The men from Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, started the second stanza in the same fashion as the first with fullback Tiaan Swanepoel slicing straight through the defence to score a sensational point-of-origin try.

Ten minutes later, with UJ centre Musawenkosi Tshabalala scored an epic point-of-origin try.

This proved to be their last try as Madibaz capitalised on replacement hooker Pierre Rabie's yellow card to score twice through replacement hooker Tembekile Boltina, which secured their bonus point.

Player That Rocks: Kwagga van Niekerk (UJ)

Scorers

For Madibaz

Tries: Dapula, Swanepoel (seven-point try), Boltina 2

For UJ

Tries: Pawson, Osuagwe, Ncube, Tshabalala (seven-point try)

Cons: Claasens 4

Pen: Claasens

Teams

Madibaz: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Nkoka Ngobe, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Johan Lombard, 11 Kholiwe Konza, 10 Tiaan Schutte, 9 Gavin Mills, 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 6 Arnouw Nel, 5 Dylan Halgreen, 4 Luyolo Dapula (captain), 3 Warwick Griffin, 2 Duan du Plessis, 1 Ruan Jonker.

Replacements: 16 Tembekile Boltina, 17 Hugo Pienaar, 18 Laken Gray, 19 Cameron Cato, 20 Wayne Moss, 21 Siphosethu Dlongodlongo, 22 Khakalethu Bophi, 23 Le-Kleu Stokes.

UJ: 15 Boldwun Hansen, 14 Siphamandla Matsinya, 13 Nkondlo Radebe, 12 Musawenkosi Tshabalala, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Eduan Smit, 8 Franco Schutte, 7 Kwagga van Niekerk (captain), 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Brendon Pawson, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Darnell Osuagwu, 1 Kayden Kiewit.

Replacements: 16 Pierre Rabie, 17 Nkosikhona Masuku, 18 Coenrad Vrey, 19 Peter-John Steenkamp, 20 Philip Apea-Adu, 21 Mpho Kubheka, 22 Indiphile Tyeda, 23 Nqubeko Mkwanazi.

Referee: Paul Mente

UP-TUKS 24 (6) MATIES 31 (15)

Maties survived a second-half comeback by UP-Tuks to record a vital win at Loftus Versfeld.

The North-South clash is characterised by a no-inch-given attitude and this meeting between the two most successful teams in the competition was no different as the heavyweights sussed each other out.

Initially, penalty goals ruled the day as UP-Tuks fullback Zander du Plessis slotted one either side of his opposite number Christopher Schreuder.

It would take 33 minutes for the first try to be scored as the Maroon Machine were awarded a penalty try after a dominant scrum, before wing Munier Hartzenberg snatched a perfectly-timed cross-kick to flop over the chalk.

Hartzenberg's try was a textbook example of why it's important to play until the whistle as Schreuder's penalty attempt had struck the upright before being collected by Maties and recycled for Schreuder to set up the kick that led to the five-pointer.

The second half started off rather scrappily as both teams had their efforts thwarted by unforced errors and had to settle for a penalty apiece.

Maties scrumhalf Bobby Alexander then ran a fantastic support line to collect Hartzenberg's final pass en route to scoring a scintillating point-of-origin try.

The Stripe Generation finally managed to score their opening try in 58th minute as flank Hanru Sirgel was on hand to collect a stolen ball, before replacement scrumhalf Johan Mulder picked and dived for his five-pointer seven minutes later.

Considering the intensity of the clash, it's no surprise that the final points were delivered by the boots of Du Plessis and Schreuder respectively as Maties snuck home with the four-point win.

Player That Rocks: Simon Miller (Maties)

Scorers

For UP-Tuks

Tries: Sirgel, Mulder

Con: Du Plessis

Pens: Du Plessis 4

For Maties

Tries: Penalty try, Hartzenberg, Alexander (seven-point try)

Con: Penalty try does not require a conversion'

Pens: Schreuder 4

Teams

UP-Tuks: 15 Zander du Plessis, 14 Stephan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Enrique Oranje, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Lindo Luthuli, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Etienne Janeke, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Cebolenkosi Dlamini.

Replacements: 16 Werner Fourie, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Damian Swartz, 19 Stephan Smit, 20 Orateng Koikanyang, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Ambesa Zenzile.

Maties: 15 Adriaan van der Bank, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits (captain), 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Dylan Alexander, 8 Ben-Jason Dixon, 7 Matthys Kitshoff, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Leon Lyons.

Replacements: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 James Combrinck, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Lian du Toit, 22 George Lourens, 23 Nevaldo Fleurs.

Referee: Ruhan Meiring

The Varsity Cup will continue on Monday with two Round Five matches at Tuks Stadium:

* UCT Ikeys vs CUT Ixis (17.00)

* UWC vs UP-Tuks (19.00)

The remaining three matches of the round will take place on Tuesday - Freedom Day: also at Tuks Stadium:

* UJ vs UFS Shimlas (15,00)

* Wits vs Madibaz (17.00)

* Maties vs NWU Eagles (19.00)

Source: @varsitycup