Round 2 of the FNB Varsity Cup kicked off on a high as the Gauteng derby saw UP-Tuks defeating neighbours UJ at Tuks Stadium.
In the Free State, CUT and Shimlas were victorious over UCT Ikeys and Wits respectively while Maties stole the show at Fanie Du Toit Sports Ground over NWU Eagles.
FNB UP-Tuks 37-29 FNB UJ
It took the home side only two minutes to open the scoring with skipper Dillon Smith dotting down.
However, the Stripe Generation were not going to have it easy in their return to top-flight varsity rugby after being relegated two seasons ago.
The visitors responded 10 minutes later with a try from Asemhle Mafenyana, but Alzeadon Felix failed to convert.
It was a one-sided affair with UJ struggling to break out of their half.
When they eventually did, they were awarded a penalty and Felix this time made no mistake.
The visitors’ discipline was questioned when they were reduced to 13 men in the 34th minute -- Angelo Dube and captain Siyamukela Ndlovu collecting the cards.
Tuks capitalised on UJ's errors and Deway Swartbooi’s charges pressed down UJ's forwards.
Oelof de Meyer dotted down on the stroke of halftime to hand the home side a 14-8 lead at the break.
Tuks returned from the interval fired up as they continued where they left off with the experienced Kamohelo Tlome powering over the line in the corner.
UJ though showed no signs of giving up.
A clean and cheeky break saw centre Reuven Ferreira cutting through Tuks' defence to set up Felix for their second try.
UJ, who were asking a lot of questions of Tuks' defence, did manage to reduce the deficit from transition play as Ughan Africa crossed the the tryline.
Josh Du Toit gave the home side some relief, adding more points on the scoreboard to give Tuks an eight-point lead.
For the second time on the day UJ stole the lead again from Tuks with a penalty try which saw Tuks’ Roald Hattingh sent to the sin bin.
Hattingh though made amends later with a try of his own to seal the victory for Tuks.
SCORERS
FNB UP-Tuks: 37 (14)
Tries: Dillon Smith, Oelof de Meyer, Kamohelo Tlome, Josh Du Toit and Roald Hatting.
FNB UJ: 29 (8)
Tries: Asemhle Mafenyana, Alzeadon Felix (POR), Ughan Africa.
FNB Player That Rocks: Kobus Janse van Rensburg (UP-Tuks).
TEAMS:
UP-Tuks: MJ Nel, Allister Williams, Bom Louw, Oelof de Meyer, Roald Hattingh, Kamohelo Tlome, Cayno February, Dillon Smith ©, Chad-Lee Valentine, JP Wentzel, Munashe Dukuswa, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Christiaan Vlok, Ambesa Zenzile, Tharquinn Manuel.
UJ: Angelo Dube, Ryan Marimo, Ali Gqaza, Neil Hansen, Josh du Toit, Siyemukela Ndlovu ©, Dylan Viljoen, Kamo Molefe, Berwyn Bosch, Alzeadon Felix, Ughan Africa, Reuven Ferreira, Adriano Jackson, Asemahle Mafenyana, Onela Blaauw.
FNB UFS Shimlas 59-29 FNB Wits
The defending champions, the UFS Shimlas, secured their first win of the Varsity Cup 2025 with a commanding 59-29 victory over Wits at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
Despite the runaway scoreline, the visitors from Johannesburg made them work for the win, especially in the second half.
Shimlas began their first home match of the season in spectacular fashion, with eighth-man Liam Shamburg flying over for a point-of-origin try just 20 seconds after they collected the ball from their own kick-off.
The champions didn’t ease up but instead put the throttle to full tilt, racing to a dominant 27-0 lead.
Loosehead prop Ntokozo Hlophe and fullback Regan Izaks also scored point-of-origin tries.
Wits eventually opened their account when centre Setshaba Mokoena caught Shimlas napping.
However, their joy was short-lived as lock Reinier Viljoen crossed for Shimlas’ fourth point-of-origin try.
Inside centre Alwich van der Linde added a regular try, but Wits had the final say in the first half when scrumhalf Drew Bennet dotted down on the stroke of halftime, bringing the score to 43-14 in Shimlas’ favour.
The second half was a much more evenly contested affair, though it was marred by the introduction of uncontested scrums from the 48th minute, which nullified a key weapon for the champions.
Wits capitalised on the change, with Ngia Selengbe crossing for a try, while Lindani Dweba added a late brace to secure a bonus point for the visitors.
Super-sub Stiaan Genis scored another point-of-origin try for the hosts, while flanker Ramon Uys sealed his Player That Rocked accolade with a late try.
While Wits fought bravely in the second half, the damage had already been done in the opening 40 minutes with Shimlas taking a lot of confidence from that opening blitzkrieg.
SCORERS
Shimlas: 59 (43)
Tries: Liam Shamburg (point-of-origin), Ntokozo Hlope (point-of-origin), Regan Izaks (point-of-origin), Reinier Viljoen (point-of-origin), Alwich van der Linde, Stiaan Genis (point-of-origin), Ramon Uys.
Wits: 29 (14)
Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Drew Bennet, Ngia Selengbe, Lindani Dweba 2.
FNB Player That Rocks: Ramon Uys (Shimlas)
TEAMS
FNB Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlophe, Vice Hofmeyer, Ben Pitout, Reinier Viljoen, Juan Venter, Ramon Uys, Henri van Heerden, Liam Shamburg, Hlumelo Klaas, Tiaan Kriek, Siviwe Zondani, Alwich van der Linde, Nkoka Ngobe ©, Kirwin du Preez, Regan Izaks.
FNB Wits: Ricardo Brandao, Justin Amos, Sibusiso Shongwe, Kgoposto Matlena, Thinus Oosthuizen, Joshua van Vreden, Christopher Kachungunu, Thomas Beling, Drew Bennet, Tireque Apolles, Ngia Selengbe, Setshaba Mokena, Liyema Matyolweni, Dustyn Holmes, Tirhani Masondo.
FNB CUT 23-19 FNB UCT Ikeys
A back-and-forth game unfolded in Bloemfontein as the CUT Ixias hosted the UCT Ikeys.
Right from the kick-off, the Ixias felt the pressure from the visiting side.
The home side's solid early defence and stellar breakdown play helped them hold off the early charge.
The early pressure eventually cracked the home defence, and with a man short, they conceded a try to UCT's pacey fullback, Duran Koevort.
The Ixias drew level following the return of captain Francois Bester, with flyhalf Juan Smith setting up Devinto Vergotine, as well as converting, to draw the sides level.
The match was marred by errors, as CUT's elusive outside centre, Zachery Bester, was shown a red card for a poorly timed tackle on an aerial UCT player.
The home side never stopped playing, though, as they soon took the lead for the first time, despite playing with a man short.
Home crowd favourite, Sisipho Nofuya, used his strength to cross the try-line, giving the home side an unlikely lead.
Smith once again slotted the conversion.
The home side held their nerve, and the lead, facing a barrage of pressure from the visitors, but the Ikeys could not make the pressure count.
An early second-half point-of-origin try scored by CUT's Adielson Gouveia was converted by Smith, stretching the home side's lead to 23-7.
The visitors scored through the run of centre Kian Davis, which was expertly converted by Ntokozo Makhaza.
Makhaza would get a try of his own, following a stellar performance on the left wing of the Ikeys attack, but missing his conversion meant that the score remained 23-19.
The Ixias showed great resolve to hang on to a historic win in Bloemfontein, beating the men from Cape Town for the first time.
SCORERS
CUT 23 (14)
Tries: Devinto Vergotine, Adielson Gouveia, Sisipho Nofuya.
UCT Ikeys 19 (7)
Tries: Duran Koevort, Kian Davis, Ntokozo Makhaza.
FNB Player That Rocks: Jakobus Cloete (CUT).
TEAMS:
CUT: Jan Hendrick Bessenger, Tokelo Ntaopane, Sisispho Nofuya, Asekho Marubelela, Kevin Strydom, JT van der Walt, Jakobus Cloete, Francois Bester ©, Raydon Swartboi, Juan Smith, Adielson Gouveia, Liam Prinsloo, Zchery Bester, Clive Harzenberg, Devinto Vergotine.
UCT Ikeys: Mhleli Khuzwayo, Keagan Blanckenberg, Bryan le Roux, Enos Ndiao, Keena Mills, Sipho Dyonase ©, Conno Jack Gordon, Aidan Norris, Asad Moosa, Alex Vermeulen, Ntokozo Makhaza, Thomas Nel, Kian Davis, Rethabile Louw, Duran Koevort.
FNB NWU Eagles 27-29 FNB Maties
Maties upset NWU Eagles in a close-fought encounter 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.
Van Heerden Smith and Stehan Heymans converted 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 their 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 touch line, 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 as Maties walked away with all the points.
SCORERS
NWU Eagles: 27 (20)
Tries: Isrome Phatudi, Naiden Jaarts, Duvan du Toit.
Maties: 29 (22)
Tries: Grant de Jager, Ryan Manuel, Fortune Mpofu, Ezekiel Ngobeni.
FNB Player That Rocks: Christiaan van Heerden Smith (Maties).
TEAMS:
NWU Eagles: Alethwa Buthelezi, Chyle van Zyl, Ntobeko Shezi, Tsepo Tlaka, Stephan Krugel ©, Guhan du Bois, Tian van Zyl, Sean Roulston, Divan du Toit, Stehan Heymans, Joubert Schoeman, Isrome Phatudi, Matthew Fortuin, Naiden Jaarts, Luan van der Walt.
Maties: Prince Mulea, Armand Combrink, Herman Lubbe, Zuko Poswa, Carel van der Merwe, Fortune Mpofu, Luan Botha, Ethan Snyman, Ezekiel Ngobeni ©, Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Grant de Jager, CJ Marx, Ryan Manuel, Joel Leotlela, Elridge Jack.