A top-of-the-table clash unfolded in the penultimate round of the FNB Varsity Cup as third-placed FNB Maties hosted table-toppers FNB NWU Eagles. The sides clashed at a windy Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night as the battle for semi-final spots intensified. The men from Stellenbosch prevailed in a 30-26 win at home.
Both sides traded penalties in a swirling wind to get on the scoreboard during the opening 15 minutes. The first half proved to be a battle of wits that swayed in the direction of the home side, who were handed a penalty try after their maul was collapsed 5 metres out from the try line. Louis Fourie added the extra five points after Maties opted for the Tap, giving them a 12-point lead. Eagles captain Stephan Krugel was shown a yellow card as a result.
The home side sensed an opportunity with a numerical advantage and extended their lead courtesy of CJ Erasmus, who crashed over the line after a sustained wave of attack inside the Eagles’ 22. The home side is heading into the break with a 15-point lead.
The visitors came out of the dressing room like a team on a mission in the second half to score two tries in the space of eight minutes after the restart. Raniel Turner got his side’s first try of the match with a valuable seven-pointer. An end-to-end passage of play unfolded first, Maties were denied a seven-pointer of their own after great defensive work by the Eagles. The visitors then ran the ball from their own try line for their second Point of Origin score with Leejay Petersen applying the finishing touch for a one-point lead.
Keanuh Michaels put his side back in the lead as Maties capitalised on a brilliant 50-22 by MC van Heerden Smith. Just two minutes later, and the visitors were back in the lead after Logan Janeke slipped through tackles to dot down, the conversion sailed between the uprights, giving the Eagles a 26-23 lead with 12 minutes to play.
The Maroon Machine maintained their belief and kept the ball going through the phases despite being denied by the dogged FNB NWU defence. With just four minutes left on the clock, Louw Du Toit gathered the ball from the ruck, dummied a pass to beat the defence, and put his side back in the lead.
MC van Heerden used the wind to slot a tricky conversion that gave his side a four-point lead. Maties were able to hold firm and stop the Eagles from snatching a late try for a hard-fought victory.