With just one round remaining until the semifinals, the FNB Varsity Cup 2025 season took another dramatic turn after UP-Tuks stunned Maties at Danie Craven Stadium on Monday to go top of the log.
UCT Ikeys geared closer to the playoff stages with an easy win over defending champs UFS Shimlas on the Green Mile while CUT escaped the relegation zone after defeating Witsies who now face almost certain automatic relegation unless a miracle happens next week.
The Eagles kept their hopes of a semifinal spot alive after crushing UJ who now drop into seventh place.
FNB UCT Ikeys 40-26 FNB UFS Shimlas
UCT Ikeys claimed a 14-point victory over UFS-Shimlas in their final home fixture ahead of the playoffs.
The men from Cape Town bounced back from last week’s derby defeat to Maties in convincing fashion on Monday.
Both teams bagged a bonus point for their try-scoring exploits with the hosts scoring five to the Shimlas’ four.
Ikeys winger Ntokozo Makhaza booted his side into the lead after just two minutes of play as the home side looked to set the tone for the rest of the game.
UCT’s cause was helped after a yellow card to Bradley Giddy a few moments later that allowed the hosts to make the most of their numerical advantage.
UCT ran in three tries before the halftime hooter sounded while the men from the Free State had two more players sent to the sin.
The Ikeys boasted a 20-5 lead at the break.
The hosts extended their lead with their early in the second period as Asad Moos secured the bonus-point try four minutes after the restart.
Ikeys dominated the majority of the second half but took their foot off the gas, allowing the visitors to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over but the damage was already done.
The UFS Shimlas went down swinging, which earned them a bonus point for scoring four tries, but it was the men from Cape Town who ran out as convincing 40-26 winners.
SCORERS
FNB UCT Ikeys: 40 (20)
Tries: Keagan Blanckenberg, Duran Koevort, Asad Moos, Xola Nyali, Penalty Try.
FNB UFS Shimlas: 26 (7)
Tries: Jacobus Bezuidenhout (2), Reinier Viljoen, Ben Pitout.
FNB Player that Rocks: Thomas Nel (FNB UCT Ikeys)
TEAMS:
FNB UCT Ikey: Mhleli Khuzwayo, Keagan Blanckenberg (C), Bryan le Roux, Enos Ndiao, Danio Botha, Xola Nyali, Connor Jack Gordon, Aidan Norris, Asad Moos, Alex Vermeulen, Ntokozo Makhaza, Rethabile Louw, Thomas Nel, Lezane Davis, Duran Rayn Koevort, Johan Lombard, Matthew Beckett, Zachary Porthen, Keenan Mills, Aden Da Costa, Josh Miller, Qhawe Soji, Isaiah Louw.
FNB UFS Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlope, Juanre Breitenbach, Ben Pitout, Reinier Viljoen, Sandile Nzuza, Ramon Uys, Liam Shamburg, Maynard Kleynhans, Hlumelo Klaas, Bradley Pierre Giddy, Lilitha Lunqe, Alwich Van Der Linde, Nkoka Ngobe (C), Kirwin du Preez, Wynand Botha, Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Conley Pieterse, DuJean Smit, HJ de Beer, Marno Stopforth, Alastair-Cole Vermeulen, Siviwe Zondani, Kungawo Mehlomakulu.
FNB Maties 19-29 FNB UP-Tuks
In a thrilling Varsity Cup showdown at Danie Craven Stadium, Tuks ended Maties' unbeaten run with a 29-19 win.
Played in perfect conditions, the match saw Tuks overpower the hosts, scoring four tries to Maties' two.
Tuks started with intensity, and their forwards applied heavy pressure.
Tighthead prop Bom Louw crossed for the first try after a driving maul.
Maties quickly responded through scrumhalf Mckyle Volmoer, whose break set up Joel Leotlela for a try.
Volmoer had replaced the injured Ezekiel Ngobeni.
Maties attempted an innovative tactic close to the line, but Tuks won a turnover, with the halftime score reading 9-7 in Maties' favour.
In the second half, Tuks came out strong.
Loosehead prop Mj Nel powered over from a maul to take the lead.
Captain Dillon Smith guided his team with strong leadership, and flanker Abel Pretorius showed great determination to score Tuks' third try.
Tuks’ hooker Ruan van Blommestein added a fourth try, leaving Maties on the back foot.
Maties fought back, with Jean-Marc Trichard breaking through for a try, but it wasn't enough.
A final penalty from flyhalf JP Wentzel sealed the win for Tuks.
Flyhalf Jandre Burger was named Player that Rocks, excelling with his goal-kicking, playmaking and defense, contributing significantly to Tuks' victory and ending Maties' unbeaten streak.
SCORERS
FNB Maties: 19 (9)
Tries: Joel Leotlela, Jean-marc Trichard.
FNB UP-Tuks: 29 (7)
Tries: Bom Louw, Ruan Van Blommestein, Abel Pretorius, Mj Nel.
FNB Player thar Rocks: Jandre Burger (FNB UP-Tuks)
TEAMS
FNB Maties: Prince Mulea, CJ Erasmus, Herman Lubbe, Zuko Poswa, Carel Van Der Merwe, Armand Combrink, Luan Botha, Ethan Snyman, Mckyle Volmoer, Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Dylan Miller, Grant De Jager, Ryan Manuel, Joel Leotlela, Elridge Jack.
FNB UP-Tuks: MJ Nel, Ruan van Blommestein, Bom Louw, Roald Hattingh, Lilitha Matsiliza, Abel Pretorius, Cayno February, Dillon Smith (C), Chad-Lee Valentine, Jandre Burger, Andile Myeni, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Tharquinn Manuel, 14. Munashe Dukuswa, Ambesa Zenzile.
FNB NWU Eagles 52-7 FNB UJ
NWU Eagles returned to winning ways with a dominant 52-7 victory over UJ under heavy rain on Monday night at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground – with Chyle van Zyl bagging a hat-trick.
The Eagles struck early with a Tian van Zyl try, converted by MJ Mostert, who later added a penalty for a 12-0 lead.
The Eagles dominated the first half, extending their lead to 26-0 as Stephan Krugel finished off a well-worked team try, converted by MJ Mostert.
The Eagles dominated the second half, with Van Zyl scoring twice from lineout driving mauls, both converted by MJ Mostert.
Guhan Du Bois added another try as the Eagles extended their lead to 45-0.
The home side continued their dominance with Stephen Taylor scoring another try from a lineout driving maul, converted by Stehan Heymans, making it 52-0.
UJ managed to get on the board with a try from Jarrad Jordan, converted by Oela Blaauw, bringing the final score to 52-7.
SCORERS
FNB NWU Eagles: 52 (26)
Tries: Tian van Zyl, Stephan Krugel, Chyle van Zyl (3), Guhan du Bois, Stephen Taylor.
FNB UJ: 7 (0)
Tries: Jarrad Jordan
FNB Player that Rocks: Stephan Krugel (FNB NWU Eagles)
TEAMS
FNB NWU Eagles: Alethwa Buthelezi, Chyle Van Zyl, Ntobeko Shezi, Tsepo Tlaka, Stephan Krugel (C), Guhan Du Bois, Tian Van Zyl, Sean Roulston, Sanele Zungu, MJ Mostert, Joubert Schoeman, Isrome Phatudi, Matthew Fortuin, Naiden Jaarts, Luan Van der Walt.
FNB UJ: Damian Baker, Ryan Marimo, Ali Gqaza, Jaden Baillie, Kamo Molefe, Siyemukela Ndlovu (C), Muzuva Gutu, Dylan Viljoen, Liam Rowan, Elzeadon Felix, Ughan Africa, John Ford, Sifiso Dlamini, Jayden Pringle, Michail Damon.
FNB CUT 34-28 FNB WITS
The CUT Ixias broke their three-match losing streak in the Varsity Cup on Monday night with a crucial 34-28 bonus-point victory over Wits in Bloemfontein.
The win was vital in ensuring the Ixias avoid automatic relegation this season.
However, with one round still to play, anything can happen in a week of rugby and a relegation playoff still looms.
The Ixias opened the scoring in their must-win encounter when hooker Tokelo Ntaopane dotted down from a powerful lineout maul in their first entry into the 22m area.
This was the first of his three tries.
Almost immediately, the visitors from Johannesburg struck back, with flanker Joshua van Vreden slicing through the CUT defence for a converted try.
Wits then doubled their lead minutes later when live-wire 8th-man Christopher Kachungunu crashed over after sustained pressure.
The Ixias had the final say in the first half, with both locks, Kevin Strydom and Asekho Marubelela, crossing the try line to edge into a 17-14 lead at the break.
In the second half, Ntaopane completed his brace before play was suspended for more than an hour and a half due to lightning.
Replacement tighthead prop Sibusiso Shongwe scored his first of two tries to keep Wits in the fight when play resumed, but CUT responded, with Jan-Hendrik Bessenger dotting down before Ntaopane powered over for his hat-trick.
Shongwe had the final say in the game, completing his brace to reduce the deficit to just six points, but it wasn’t enough to save Wits from automatic relegation.
As things stand, the Ixias may avoid the relegation playoff, but their fate depends on UJ’s result against the UCT Ikeys next week, while they will want to upset the NWU Eagles at the Fanie.
SCORERS
FNB CUT: 34 (17)
Tries: Tokelo Ntaopane (3), Kevin Strydom, Asekho Marubelela, Jan-Hendrik Bessenger.
FNB WITS: 28 (14)
Tries: Joshuan van Vreden, Christopher Kachungunu, Sibusiso Shongwe.
FNB Player that Rocks: Tokelo Ntaopane (FNB CUT)
TEAMS
FNB CUT: Devinto Vergotine, Clive Hartzenberg, Liam Prinsloo, Jean Swart, Zachery Bester, MC Malan, Raydon Swartbooi, Francois Bester (c), Tsebano Stemer, JT van der Walt, Kevin Strydom, Asekho Marubelela, Sisipho Nofuya, Tokelo Ntaopane, Jan-Hendrik Bessenger.
FNB WITS: Lindani Dweba, Dustyn Holmes, Keith Chirwa, etshaba Mokoena (c), Kevon Chirwa, Matthew Coetzee, Drew Bennet, Christopher Kachungunu, Thando Biyela, Joshua van Vreden, Hayden Munnery, Thomas Beling, Sibusiso Shongwe, Dagan Meuwese, Ricardo Brandao.