Close calls for Maties and NWU; CUT and UCT breathe easy

FNB MATIES 56 FNB WITS 54

It went down to the wire, but in the end, FNB Maties secured an import 56-54 victory over FNB Wits in Johannesburg on Monday with flyhalf Jurie Matthee kicking the match-winning penalty in the final seconds.

The game was played in front of a small crowd as supporters were restricted from coming to the stadium due to ongoing protests on the Wits University campus.

The first half saw Wits registering the first score through flanker Mark Snyman, before Maties took a 10-7 lead courtesy of a penalty and a try from Matthew van Schalkwyk. Then the visitors ran Wits ragged to race to a 40-19 lead at the break.

In the second half it looked as if the Witsies would launch a comeback and find their way back into the game. But a lack of discipline let them down with unnecessary penalties during crucial parts of the game.

Matthee was in fine form at flyhalf for Maties, making sure his team remained in the fight, in moments when it looked like Wits would claim a famous victory. Wits scored four tries in the second half, while the visitors only managed one. A last-gasp penalty was unfortunately the undoing of the Witsies' hard work.

FNB Wits 54 (19) – Tries: Mark Snyman, Azi Afrika (2), Lindo Mcusane, Wernich Aucamp (2). Conversions:Gerswin Mouton (1). Penalties:Mouton (1).

FNB Maties 56 (40) – Tries:Matthew van Schalkwyk, Grant de Jager, Waqar Solaan, Siyabonga Ngubelanga (2), Maselino Pooe. Conversions:Jurie Matthee.

Penalties:Matthee (4).

FNB Player That Rocks: Grant de Jager (Maties)

FNB NWU EAGLES 26 FNB UP-TUKS 22

The nightmare is continuing for FNB UP-Tuks as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat this season, with log leaders FNB NWU Eagles beating the defending champions 26-22 in Pretoria.

The halftime score was 21-15.

The home side started on a high note when hooker Allitser Williams dotted down from a driving maul inside the first 10 minutes. After missing a conversion Walter Visser redeemed himself when he scored a penalty to make it 8-0 after 13 minutes of action.

Tries by Tino Swanepoel and Keano Windvogel put the Eagles on the board as they edged past Tuks to lead 14-8. The visitors continued their rampage when Theuns Pretorius barged through the Tuks defence for his try. The home team got one back when captain Lincoln Daniels crossed over for the hosts’ second try of the evening.

The Eagles’ Swanepoel completed his double two minutes into the second half. Ethan Burger reduced the deficit when he tapped the ball and crossed over the NWU try line.

Tuks looked rejuvenated in the last 20 minutes of the match as they were desperately seeking a much-needed win to remain in contention, however, their questions remained unanswered.

FNB UP-Tuks: 22 (15) – Tries:Allister Williams, Lincoln Daniels, Ethan Burger. Conversions:Walter Visser (1). Penalties:Visser (1)

FNB NWU Eagles: 26 (21) – Tries:Tino Swanepoel (2), Keano Windvogel, Theuns Pretorius. Conversions:Zinedine Robinson (2).

Player That Rocks: Tino Swanepoel (NWU)

FNB CUT 54 FNB UJ 12

After a competitive first half, FNB CUT kicked into higher gear for a comprehensive 54-12 victory over FNB UJ in Johannesburg.

It was the Orange Army who scored the first try of the game through Peter Polhmann, who was set up brilliantly by his teammates. Jonathan Viljoen made no mistake with the conversion, giving UJ an early 7-0 lead.

CUT however fought back strongly and managed to score three tries before the end of the first half. Zachary Bester was the star of the show for the visitors, scoring two brilliant tries from long range. Ricoman Titus also got on the scoresheet with a team effort, giving the visitors a 30-12 lead at halftime.

The second half started in a similar fashion, with CUT extending their lead through a penalty. And then the tries started raining, first Matthew Sekele, followed by Jacobus Cloete and Titus who dotted down for his hat-trick.

It was a disappointing result for UJ, who will need to regroup and work on their defence ahead of their next game. For CUT, it was an excellent performance and a valuable win on the road.

FNB UJ: 12 (12) – Tries:Peter Polhmann, Prince Nkabinde. Conversions:Jonathan Viljoen (1).

FNB CUT: 54 (30) – Tries:Zachary Bester (2), Ricoman Titus (3), Jacobus Cloete, Matthew Sekele. Conversions:Tyler Sefoor (6). Penalties:Sefoor (1).

FNB Player That Rocks:Jacobus Johannes Cloete (CUT)

FNB UCT 29 FNB 12 UFS SHIMLAS

FNB UCT restored their dignity with a 29-12 win over FNB UFS Shimlas in Cape Town. Having lost their away match last week against FNB UJ, the Ikey Tigers were hoping to fix what went wrong.

The home side broke the deadlock in the early stages of the game through winger Rethabile Louw with Ntokozo Makhaza adding the extras making it 7-0 after seven minutes. It wasn’t long before Tom Dawson-Squibb’s side scored their second try through prop Brian le Roux. Kyle Lamb went over for UCT’s third just before halftime, taking the score to 24-0.

As expected because of the heavy wind at the Green Mile Stadium, the visitors showed up at the start of the second half putting more pressure on the Ikey Tigers. Shimlas used UCT scrumhalf Asad Moos’ yellow card to their advantage when 8th man Kwezi Dlamini dotted down. Frank de Reis added another, but it was a case of too little too late for the visitors.

FNB UCT 29 (24) – Tries:Rethabile Louw, Brian le Roux, Kyle Lamb, Lezane Davis. Conversations:Ntokozo Makhaza (3). Penalties:Makhaza (1).

FNB UFS Shimlas 12 (0) – Tries:Kwezi Dlamini, Frank de Reis. Conversations:Ethan Wentzel (1).

Player That Rocks: Kyle Lamb (UCT)