The round robin stages of the FNB Varsity Cup have ended and the semifinalists decided in dramatic fashion as defending champs FNB UFS showed their pedigree by beating FNB Tuks in Pretoria.
The Shimlas' bonus-point win puts them in fourth spot, just one above the Eagles, who absolutely crushed the Ixias in Potch, but failed to advance to the playoffs in fifth.
FNB Maties cruised past FNB Wits to claim top spot on the log and a home semifinal, while the loss sees the Witsies stay bottom of the log to be automatically relegated to the FNB Varsity Shield. FNB UCT Ikeys triumphed over FNB UJ in a highly competitive and exciting match.
The Cape side ended the group stage in third and will face the Stripe Generation, who finished second in Pretoria. The Orange Army ended their campaign in seventh and will go into the promotion-relegation playoff against Madibaz on 5 May.
PLAYOFFS:
Semifinal 1: FNB Tuks v FNB UCT, 7 April, 4:45pm at Tuks Stadium
Semifinal 2: FNB Maties v FNB UFS Shimlas, 7 April, 7pm at Danie Craven Stadium.
UJ 31-49 UCT Ikeys
UCT Ikeys triumphed over UJ in a highly competitive match, securing a 49-31 victory in what was a thrilling encounter.
The match began with UCT Ikeys striking first, capitalising on a penalty after UJ conceded from a dropped scrum. Winger Ntokozo Makhaza slotted the ball through the posts to give the visitors an early lead. Ikeys quickly built on this momentum, and in the 15th minute, Danio Botha spotted a gap in the UJ defence. The conversion was successful, and Ikeys extended their lead.
However, UJ wasn’t discouraged. The home side responded positively within a minute when Reuven Ferreria found space on the outside and powered through the Ikeys defense to score a try. The conversion followed, and UJ began to close the gap.
Leading to halftime, UJ had narrowed the deficit to just one point, with the Ikeys leading as the teams headed into the break.
The second half saw UJ come out determined to take control. Bian Janse van Rensburg found a gap in the Ikeys' defence and crossed the line to score another try for UJ, keeping the game tight. The conversion was good, and UJ trailed by just three points.
But UCT Ikeys quickly regained the upper hand as Alex Vermeulen carried over the line to score, extending their lead. Despite a solid response from UJ, Ikeys remained clinical in their finishing.
With minutes remaining, Ikeys were awarded a penalty, and Duran Rayn Koevort made no mistake, slotting the ball through the posts to secure the win for the visitors.
SCORERS:
FNB UJ: 31 (19)
Tries: Sifiso Dlamini, Coun-lee Koekman, Berwyn Bosch, Reuven Ferreira, Bian Janse Van Rensburg.
FNB UCT Ikeys: 49 (20)
Tries: Rethabile Louw, Danio Botha, Ntokozo Makhaza, Alex Vermeulen, Monray Daars.
FNB Player that Impressed: Monray Daars (FNB UCT)
TEAMS:
FNB UJ: Damian Baker, Francois Prinsloo, Bian Janse van Rensburg, Jaden Ballie, Kamo Molefe, Siyemukela Ndlovu ©, Thabo Mashigo, Dylan Viljoen, Berwyn Bosch, Michail Damon, Ughan Africa, Reuven Ferreria, Sifiso Dlamini, Okwan Oavane, Oela Biaauw.
FNB UCT Ikeys: Matthew Beckett, Keagan Blanckenberg ©, Zachary Porthen, Enos Ndiao, Danio Botha, Aiden Norris, Connor Jack Gordon, Aden Da Costa, Monray Daars, Alex Vermeulen, Ntokozo Makhaza, Thomas Nel, Kian Davis, Rethabile Louw, Durran Rayn, Koevort.
NWU Eagles 117-19 CUT
NWU Eagles secured a convincing victory against CUT Ixias at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground on Monday night, but it wasn’t enough to earn a semifinal spot.
CUT Ixias opened the scoring through Zachery Bester, taking a 5-0 lead, but the Eagles quickly responded. Tian van Zyl’s try levelled the score at 5-5 before Ntobeko Shezi and Luan van der Walt’s double extended their advantage to 26-5.
Matthew Fortuin, Indiphile Tyeda, and Sean Roulston piled on the points. CUT’s Kevin Strydom scored late to make it 52-12, but the Eagles’ dominance was clear by halftime as they went into the break with a commanding 52-12 lead.
NWU Eagles continued their dominance in the second half, quickly extending their lead through Matthew Fortuin and Chyle van Zyl. CUT responded with a try from Raydon Swartbooi, but the Eagles remained relentless, with Guhan du Bois, Luan van der Walt, and Naiden Jaarts adding to the tally. By the 65th minute, the Eagles had reached 100 points, leaving CUT struggling to keep up.
Indiphile Tyeda and Tian van Zyl added late tries before Stehan Heymans sealed the emphatic 117-19 victory with a last-minute penalty.
SCORERS
FNB NWU Eagles: 117 (52)
Tries: POR try: Luan Van Der Walt (3), Naiden Jaarts (2), Tian Van Zyl (2), Chyle Van Zyl (2), Mathew Fortuin (2), Ntobeko Shezi, Indiphile Tyeda, Guhan du Bois, Sean Roulston, Sanele Zungu.
FNB CUT: 19 (12)
Tries: Zachery Bester, Kevin Strydom, Raydon Swartbooi.
FNB Player that Rocks: Ntobeko Shezi (FNB NWU Eagles)
TEAMS
FNB NWU Eagles: lethwa Buthelezi, Chyle Van Zyl, Ntobeko Shezi, Tsepo Tlaka, Stephan Krugel, Guhan du Bois, Tian Van Zyl, Sean Roulsto, Sanele Zungu, MJ Mostert, Joubert Shoeman, Isrome Phatudi, Matthew Fortuin, Naiden Jaarts, Luan Van Der Walt.
FNB CUT: Mamello Moshoaliba, Tokelo Ntaopane, Sisipho Nofuya, Asekho Marubelela, Kevin Strydom, JT Van Der Walt, Hope Seyaga, Francois Bester (C), Raydon Swartbooi, Matthys Cornelius Malan, Zachery Bester, Jean Swart, Liam Prinsloo, Clive Hartzenberg. Devinto Vergotine.
Wits 7-47 Maties
Wits were sent packing by a dominant Maties team, who worked hard to secure a commanding 49-7 victory at Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday evening.
The visitors delivered a brilliant defensive effort in the first half, keeping Wits scoreless while racking up a 21-0 lead, to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Despite their best efforts, Wits couldn’t put any points on the board, as the men from Stellenbosch ran rampant. Maties’ first-half tries came courtesy of a brace from CJ Erasmus and an incredible solo effort from outside centre Grant de Jager. Inside centre CJ Marx was in fine form with the boot, converting all three tries for the Maroon Machine.
The second half saw Maties pick up where they left off, scoring immediately from the kickoff. Scrumhalf Mckyle Volmoer charged down a Wits clearance kick to dot down. The visitors continued to dominate the physical exchanges, making life difficult for Wits.
However, the hosts refused to roll over and tested the Maties’ defence, which held firm.
FNB Wits were once again guilty of too many errors, which kept them pinned in their own half. Maties hooker CJ Erasmus completed his hat-trick in the second half, while Wits finally got on the board at the death through replacement loose forward Risima Khosa, with Tireque Apolles adding the conversion. By the time the final whistle blew, it was the Maroon Machine who walked away with their heads held high after a resounding 49-7 victory.
SCORERS
FNB Wits: 7 (0)
Tries: Risima Khosa.
FNB Maties: 47 (21)
Tries: CJ Erasmus (3), Grant De Jager (2), Mckyle Volmoer, Carel van der Merwe.
FNB Player that Rocks: Carel van der Merwe (FNB Maties)
TEAMS:
FNB Wits: Ricardo Brandao, Dagan Meuwese, Sibusiso Shongwe, Thomas Beling, Hayden Munnery, Joshua van Vreden (VC), Luke Cannon, Christopher Kachungunu, Drew Bennet, Matthew Coetzee, Kevon Chirwa, Setshaba Mokoena (C), Ngia Selengbe, Dustyn Holmes Lindani Dweba.
FNB Maties: Prince Mulea, CJ Erasmus, Jason Johnson, Zuko Poswa, Carel Van Der Merwe, Fortune Mpofu, Luan Botha, Ethan Snyman, Mykyle Volmoer, Christiaan Van Heerden-Smith, Dylan Miller, CJ Marx, Grant De Jager, Jean-Marc Trichard, Elridge Jack.
UP-Tuks 35-48 UFS Shimlas
UFS Shimlas had the final say as they claimed a 48-35 victory over UP-Tuks at Tuks Stadium.
The visitors struck first when Jacobus Bezuidenhout opened the scoring from close range, with Bradley Giddy converting. It didn’t take long for UP-Tuks to respond, as Edwin Till dotted down to level the score at 7-7. Shimlas hit back at the 25-minute mark when Nkoka Ngobe dived over for a point-of-origin try, which was successfully converted by Giddy.
Kirwin du Preez then silenced the Tuks fans as Shimlas extended their lead to 23-7 after 35 minutes. The first half ended with the visitors firmly in control at 23-7.
At the start of the second half, the hosts managed to compose themselves as they looked to get back into the game. In the 44th minute, Hayn Kemp dragged his side back into contention. He latched onto a fortunate bounce to score a point-of-origin try for the Stripe Generation, reducing the deficit to 23-16.
UP-Tuks continued their fightback with back-to-back tries, as Bayanda Ngubane crossed the line twice in an effort to cut down the deficit further. However, Shimlas were not willing to sit back, and Ben Pitout widened the gap once again. In the end, the visitors secured all the points in the capital with a well-earned victory.
SCORERS
FNB UP-Tuks: 35 (7)
Tries: Edwin Till, Haydn Kemp, Bayanda Ngubane (2), Ambesa Zenzile.
FNB UFS Shimlas: 48 (23)
Tries: Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Ben Pitout, Siviwe Zondani, Nkoka Ngobe, Kirwin du Preez, Ramon Uys.
FNB Player that Rocks: Ramon Uys (FNB UFS Shimlas)
TEAMS:
FNB UP-Tuks: Barnard Nortje, Edwin Till, Bom Louw, JW Mare, Roald Hattingh, Kamohelo Tlome, Cayno February, Haydn Kemp, Chad-Lee Valentine, JP Wentzel, Bayanda Ngubane, Keane Galant, Tharquinn Manuel, Ambesa Zenzile, Jandre Burger.
FNB UFS Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlope, Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Ben Pitout, Reinier Viljoen, HJ de Beer, Ramon Uys, Marno Stopforth, Liam Shamburg, Hlumelo Klaas, Bradley Pierre Giddy, Siviwe Zondani, Freddie Dreyer, Nkoka Ngobe (c), Kirwin du Preez, Regan Izaks.