FNB Maties managed to hang on for a 26-20 victory over FNB CUT in a cold and wet Bloemfontein.
The tough conditions marred good attacking play throughout the night.
It was the Ixias who opened the scoring through a penalty by fly-half Juan Smith and it would be Smith who stretched the host's lead to 6-0 a few minutes later. CUT made their early penalties count before conceding the game's opening try (Roland van der Heever) to the rolling maul of the Maroon Machine.
The visitors repeated the trick when they scored their second similarly. Eric Basson gave Maties the lead for the first time, and Juan Mostert added the extras. Maties went into the half-time break 12-6 in the lead.
Maties scored soon after the restart as substitute winger Christiaan Van Heerden-Smith scored for his side, and Juan Mostert converted once more. Player That Rocks Louw Nel added another try for the men from Stellenbosch and Mostert once again added the extras.
The hosts left it late once more, scoring a point-of-origin try, dotted down by Tiaan Drotskie. The home side would score again with time already up. Asekho Marubelela going over for the hosts, who left it a little bit too late.
Scorers:
FNB Maties: Tries: Roland van der Heever, Eric Basson, Christiaan Van Heerden-Smith, Louw Nel. Conversions: Juan Mostert (3).
FNB CUT: Tries: Tiaan Drotskie, Asekho Marubelela. Conversion: Floris Brand. Penalty: Juan Smith.
FNB Player That Rocks: Louw Nel (FNB Maties)
Teams:
FNB Maties: 1 Prince Rotondwa Mulea, 2 Siyasanga Ngubelanga, 3 Friedrich Cornelius Weilbach, 4 Edrich Viljoen, 5 Matthew Andrew Gray, 6 Eric Chris Basson, 7 Jacobus Adriaan Louw Nel, 8 Roland Leonard Van Der Heever, 9 McKyle Volmoer,10 Juan Mostert, 11 Matthew van Schalkwyk, 12 Aydon Colin Topley, 13 Ryan Marcus Manuel, 14 Paschal Hans Uzoma Ekeji, 15 Hofmeyr Gideon Retief.
FNB CUT: 1 Mamello Moshoaliba, 2 Albertus Human Venter, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 4 Asekho Phindile Marubelela, 5 Kevin Strydom, 6 Tsebane Edward Stemer, 7 Tjaart Jurie Van der Walt, 8 Jacobus Johannes Cloete, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 10 Juan Arnold Smith, 11 Liam Ethan de Wet, 12 Liam Prinsloo, 13 Zachary Bester, 14 Adielson Gouveia, 15 Devanito Lushan Vergotine.