Maties And Tuks In Titanic Battle

Photo by Poppie Terblanche/Speedshots.co.za

Round five gave us what we all wanted and asked for, a proper match of rugby which kept you on the edge of our seats for the full 137 minutes. Hats of to TUKS that did not bow their heads to the Mighty Maties in an incredible display of rugby. It also answered several questions regarding the semifinals and who will win it. At this stage, Maties will host Wits and TUKS will host UCT with the final in Stellenbosch on 24/04/2020. However, no one with any brain cells will predict the winner, especially after TUKS just failed to beat the mighty Maties at home. Although TUKS remains on the top of the log it must be remembered that Maties played one game less.

After CUT's win over Shimlas this weekend they are well clear on 22 points of CUT (12) and UJ (9) from the promotion/relegation zone. The game in Johannesburg between these two teams on the 16th March will likely determine who will be automatically relegated and who will be involved in a match with the team that ended second in the Shield competition to avoid relegation.

Maties 13-07 TUKS

The first proper rugby match of the 2020 Varsity Cup competition played before a capacity crowd. Maties held their nerve to beat log-leaders Tuks 13-7 at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday night.

It seemed more like a wrestling bout than a rugby match at some stages with the opening exchanges immensely physical. Tuks were able to keep the Maties from scoring early on but one got the feeling that Maties were slowly finding their rhythm. Maties were first on the scoreboard as expected but TUKS replied immediately with a try of their own. A converted penalty gave Maties a lead of 10-07 at halftime

The second half TUKS threw everything they could find at Maties, however, brilliant defence by Maties and several handling mistakes kept TUKS from scoring on several occasions. A long-range penalty early in the second half gave Maties a lead of 13-7 which they hung on to remain unbeaten while TUKS suffered their first defeat of the season.

Scorers:

Maties: Try: Ben-Jason Dixon. Conversion: Reinhardt Fortuin. Penalties: Reinhardt Fortuin (2).

FNB UP-Tuks: Try: Stefan Coetzee. Conversion: Theo Boshoff.

 

Teams

FNB Maties: 15 Anton du Toit, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Dewald Naudé, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Geor Malan, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon (captain), 4 Zirk Jansen, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Mitchell Carstens, 21 Luciano Elias, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Mike Mavovana.

FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Alex-Zander du Plessis, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Theo Boshoff, 9 Raegan Oranje, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 7 Hanru Sirgil, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Marius Verwey (captain), 4 Marcell Barnard, 3 JP Smith, 2 Keano Hendricks, 1 André van der Merwe. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Claasen, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Mogau Mabokela, 19 Ewart Potgieter, 20 Keenan Opperman, 21 Leshley October, 22 Elden Schoeman, 23 Lionel April.

CUT 35-14 Shimlas

FNB CUT outplayed FNB Shimlas to win 35-14 and claimed back-to-back wins over their neighbours in the FNB Varsity Cup. The first half was a "one for me and one for you" affair with both sides who had and took their opportunities to score. CUT lead 19-14 at the halftime break. Although the start of the second half produced good rugby the match deteriorated into scrappy play with both teams making extensive handling errors to stall the momentum of the game. CUT scored two opportunistic tries to take the match to the final score 35-14 for CUT.       

Scorers

Shimlas: Tries: Rholane Ncubuka, Janco van Heyningen. Conversions: JP Duvenage (2).

FNB CUT: Tries: Luvuyo Ndevu, PJ Krugell (point-of-origin), Xavier Swartbooi. Conversions: Charles Williams (3). Drop goal: Cohen Jasper

Penalties: Charles Williams (2)

 

Teams

FNB Shimlas: 15 Cham Zondeki, 14 Francois Agenbag, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Tiaan Schutte, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 JP Duvenage, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Bertie de Bod, 7 Sibabalo Qoma (captain), 6 Jan Rossouw, 5 Keanan Murray, 4 Rholane Ncubuka, 3 Gerrit Visser, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Bhekinkosi Qaba. Replacements: 16 Jhaques Thyssen, 17 Wihan Marais, 18 Daniël Wessels, 19 Nathan Jordan, 20 Mihlali Peter, 21 Chadd Adams, 22 Siyanda Cele, 23 Thabang Mahlasi.

FNB CUT: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout (captain), 11 PJ Krugell, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Xavier Swartbooi, 8 Hardus Nel, 7 Jacques Ackerman, 6 Luvuyo Ndevu, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 3 Tebogo Masemola, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Quintin Vorster. Replacements: 16 Hans Terblanche, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Wandré Nortjé, 19 Katleho Morapane, 20 Matthew Sekele, 21 Jaco Wilkinson, 22 Ruan Wasserman, 23 Karabo Maqeba.

Ikeys 10-10 Wits

The Ikey Tigers survived a late onslaught by FNB Wits to share the spoils as both sides remain undefeated in the competition. Both sides came into the match undefeated with both teams too scared to make mistakes. UCT lead 7-3 at half time with Wits doing incredibly well keeping the score low while playing into the wind.

In the second half, it was the home side who dominated both territory and possession in the early stages. A UCT converted penalty in the 53rd minute extended Ikey's lead to 10-3. Wits is fast becoming known for their last-minute efforts in this competition with a late try which saw the levelling the score at 10-10.

Last seconds action saw Aidynn Cupido broke the line late on in what looked to be a game-changing moment for Wits but the home side was able to shut down the attack as they earned their second draw in succession to hold onto their playoff place.

Scorers

UCT: Tries: Athi Gazi. Conversion: James Tedder. Penalty: James Tedder.

Wits: Try: Emmanuel Tshituka. Conversion: Kurt Webster. Penalty: Kurt Webster.

 

Teams

FNB UCT: 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Gerard Pieterse, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Michael Brink, 11 Rayno Mapoe, 10 James Tedder, 9 Kyle Bowman, 8 Liam Greenhalgh (captain), 7 Busanda Mabena, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Luthando Woji, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Ashwyn Adams. Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Devon Arendse, 18 Gugu Nelani, 19 Byron Bowes, 20 Byron Cranswick, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Godfrey Ramaboea, 23 Sebastian Roodt.

FNB Wits: 15 Daniel Kasende, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Yanga Hlalu, 12 Aidynn Cupido, 11 Lwazi Monakali, 10 Kurt Webster, 9 Runaldo Pedro, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Cal Smid, 6 Constant Beckerling, 5 Emmanuel Tshituka, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Justin Brandon (captain), 1 Jason Cloete. Replacements: 16 Mulalo Sadiki, 17 Ebot Buma, 18 Cornel Greeff, 19 William Thomson, 20 Ziyanda Msipha, 21 Hlumelo Ndudula, 22 Christian Humphries, 23 Sicelo Champion

NWU 19-06 UJ

FNB NWU got back to winning ways when they beat FNB UJ 19-6 at the Fanie du Toit Stadium in Potchefstroom on Monday night. NWU took a 14-3 lead at halftime after with both teams still in the game. UJ gave their all in the second half but NWU's defence forced handling errors and left them with no way through. After a converted try by NWU that gave them, a 19-6 lead NWU desperately tried to score a bonus-point try, but their efforts proved futile as UJ held them off.

Scorers

FNB NWU: Tries: Chuiner van Rooyen, Ruben du Plessis, Eugene Hare. Conversions: Marco Donges (2)

FNB UJ: Penalties: PW Steenkamp (2)

 

Teams

FNB NWU: 15 Chuiner van Rooyen, 14 Lungelo Gosa, 13 Lincoln Daniels, 12 Marco Donges, 11 Eugene Hare, 10 Evardi Boshoff, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Edmund Rheeder (captain), 7 Wandi Mazibuko, 6 Chris Vermaak, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Ruben du Plessis. Replacements: 16 Fanie Mare, 17 Jason Jansen, 18 Ruan Swiegers, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 André Fouché, 21 Caleb Louw, 22 Curtley Scheepers, 23. Khulu Mcuma.

FNB UJ: 15 Shaun Williams, 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13 Musawenkosi Tshabalala, 12 Siphesihle Radebe, 11 Siphamandla Matsinya, 10 PW Steenkamp, 9 Divan Henning, 8 Edwin Jansen (captain), 7 Kwagga van Niekerk, 6 Siyabonga Masuku, 5 Simon Dionisio, 4 André Meyer, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Luke Fortuin. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Sibusiso Lali, 18 Kayden Kiewit, 19 Buhlebenkosi Qaba, 20 Lungelo Molele, 21 Wynand Botha, 22 Mayibongwe Maduna, 23 Shaun-Christian Baxter.