The FNB UFS Shimlas drew first blood in the 2026 Varsity Cup with a thrilling bonus-point 50-39 victory over the FNB Maties at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
The high-scoring clash marked a historic moment in the tournament’s history, with the first-ever powerplay (tap) tries being scored. That honour, however, went to the visitors from the Cape Winelands.
Shimlas burst out of the blocks, racing into a commanding 21–0 lead within the first 25 minutes. Winger Kirwin du Preez, centre Wynand Botha, and hooker Jaco Bezuidenhout all crossed the whitewash as the hosts stamped their authority early on.
Just minutes before half-time, Maties clawed their way back with a second try. Instead of opting for a routine conversion, they backed themselves and went for the quick tap, which paid off handsomely as CJ Marx crashed over to score the tournament’s first-ever powerplay try.
Shimlas went into the break holding a slender 21–17 lead after a momentum-swinging end to the half.
Maties came out firing in the second stanza, with Christiaan van Heerden Smith and Armand Combrinck dotting down to swing the pressure onto the home side. But Shimlas responded in style. The impressive lock Maynard Kleynhans showed surprising pace, beating defenders down the touchline like a winger to score in the corner. Liam Shamburg then added his name to the scoresheet in a standout performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.
Captain Bradley Giddy kept his composure under pressure, slotting two long-range kicks to stretch the lead and put the game seemingly out of reach for the five-time champions. Yet Maties refused to roll over.
Replacement hooker CJ Erasmus powered over on the stroke of full-time, and in another successful powerplay move, lock Zuko Poswa grabbed an additional five points to keep the scoreboard ticking.
In the end, FNB UFS Shimlas had done enough to secure a memorable opening-night victory in front of their passionate home crowd.
The evening was also a poignant one in Bloemfontein, as the Shimlas paid tribute to two recently departed legends of the game - Oom Tat Botha and former Springbok hooker Wessel Lightfoot - making the victory even more meaningful on a special night at Shimla Park.
Scorers:
FNB UFS Shimlas: Kirwin du Preez (POR), Wynard Botha (POR), Jaco Bezuidenhout (2), Maynard Kleynhans (POR), Liam Shamburg. Conversions: Bradley Pierre Giddy (4). Penalties: Bradley Pierre Giddy (2).
FNB Maties: Fortune Mpofu, Rynhardt van der Linden, CJ Marx (powerplay), Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Armand Combrinck, CJ Erasmus, Zuko Poswa. Conversion: Christiaan Van Heerden Smith.
FNB Player of the Match: Liam Shamburg (FNB UFS Shimlas)
Teams:
FNB UFS Shimlas: 1 Nkosephayo Sbusiso Ngema, 2 Jacobus Bezuidenhout, 3 Ongeziwe Mobo, 4 Arno Van Der Merwe, 5 Maynard Kleynhans, 6 Henri Van Heerden, 7 Sandile Nzuza, 8 Liam Shamburg, 9 Alastair-cole Vermeulen, 10 Bradley Pierre Giddy, 11 Siviwe Zondani, 12 Freddie Dreyer, 13 Wynand Botha, 14 Kirwin Du Preez, 15 Shaun Ray. Replacements: 16 Vice Hofmeyer, 17 Musa Teboho Moshoaliba, 18 Faasen Laubscher, 19 HJ De Beer, 20 Juan Venter, 21 Erich Visser, 22 Keehan Etson, 23 Edward Mpinga.
FNB Maties: 1 Janlu Basson, 2 Armand Combrinck, 3 Keanuh Michaels, 4 Zuko Poswa, 5 Luke Swartz, 6 Fortune Mpofu, 7 Luan Botha, 8 Ethan Snyman, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 10 Christiaan Van Heerden Smith, 11 Huhgo Van Zitters, 12 CJ Marx, 13 Ryan Manuel, 14 Rynhardt Van Der Linden, 15 Elridge Jack. Replacements: 16 CJ Erasmus, 17 Prince Mulea, 18 Jason Johnson, 19 Tjaart Joubert, 20 Andreas Oosthuizen, 21 Mckyle Volmoer, 22 Sebastian Hahn, 23 Simon Liversage.