FNB Maties upset FNB NWU Eagles in a close-fought 29-27 win at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground. A man-of-the-match performance by Maties’ flyhalf Christiaan van Heerden Smith inspired the away side to a victory.
Grant de Jager opened the scoring for Maties following a line-out, however, the Eagles’ responded minutes later with a try by Isrome Phatudi who glided over his man to land the try for his side to make it 7-7. With van Heerden Smith and Stehan Heymans converting for their respective teams.
A penalty by van Heerden Smith put Maties in front before a brilliant move from a scrum saw Naiden Jaarts capitalising to land the try to make it 14-10 with Heymans converting again. A penalty by the Eagles’ flyhalf extended the lead to 17-10. Maties showed character, with a try from Ryan Manuel and Fortune Mpofu giving the away side a 20-22 lead heading into halftime.
With a change of jersey, Maties began the second half positively with a try from Ezekiel Ngobeni after a sprint down the touchline, with van Heerden Smith converting to make it 20-29.
Divan du Toit responded ten minutes later to reduce the deficit before Heymans converted to make it 27-29. Heymans failed to win the game for his side with a penalty for the Eagles in the last minute of the game, ensuring Maties walked away with all the points.
Scorers:
FNB NWU Eagles: Tries: Isrome Phatudi, Naiden Jaarts, Duvan du Toit. Conversions: Stehan Heymans (3). Penalties: Stehan Heymans (2).
FNB Maties: Tries: Grant de Jager, Ryan Manuel, Fortune Mpofu, Ezekiel Ngobeni. Conversions: Christiaan Van Heerden Smith (3). Penalty: Christiaan Van Heerden Smith.
Teams:
FNB NWU Eagles: 1 Alethwa Buthelezi, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 3 Ntobeko Shezi, 4 Tsepo Tlaka, 5 Stephan Krugel, 6 Guhan du Bois, 7 Tian van Zyl, 8 Sean Roulston, 9 Divan du Toit, 10 Stehan Heymans, 11 Joubert Schoeman, 12 Isrome Phatudi, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 14 Naiden Jaarts, 15 Luan van der Walt. Replacements: 16 Jordan Mcloughlin, 17 Jaco Du Toit, 18 Bradley Stanfliet, 19 Schalk Van Schalkwyk, 20 Ricardo Fourie, 21 Sanele Zungu, 22 Indiphile Tyeda, 23 Nico Liversage.
FNB Maties: 1 Prince Mulea, 2 Armand Combrink, 3 Herman Lubbe, 4 Zuko Poswa, 5 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Fortune Mpofu, 7 Luan Botha, 8 Ethan Snyman, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 10 Christiaan van Heerden Smith, 11 Grant de Jager, 12 CJ Marx, 13 Ryan Manuel, 14 Joel Leotlela, 15 Elridge Jack. Replacements: 16 CJ Erasmus, 17 Janlu Basson, 18 Jason Johnson, 19 Michael Chettoa, 20 Louw Du Toit, 21 Mckyle Volmoer, 22 Dylan Miller, 23 Pretorius Ekeji.