Shimlas stun Maties, NWU Eagles outplay UWC

SHIMLAS STUN MATIES

FNB UFS Shimlas produced an attacking masterclass to thrash FNB Maties 50-28 in Bloemfontein and end a seven-game drought against the Cape-based side.

Last week, Shimlas scored eight tries and 56 points against FNB UWC in Bellville. On this occasion, they put seven tries and 50 points past one of the tournament’s traditional powerhouses to announce themselves as the favourites for the 2022 FNB Varsity Cup title.

It's worth noting that Shimlas lost 81-24 to Maties in the corresponding fixture last year. Clearly a new coaching staff – which includes former Springbok attacking guru Swys de Bruin – and approach has made all the difference.

The forwards laid the platform for this important victory.

Openside flank Thabo Ndimande set the tone when he powered through the defence for the first of his two tries.

Shimlas turned down several kicks at goal in the period that followed, and earned the desired reward when they scored four tries from close range.

By halftime, the hosts had powered their way into a commanding lead. They had also secured the four-try bonus point. They weren’t done yet, though.

Lock Marco van Rhyn was shown a yellow card after Maties were given a team warning for cynical play on their own tryline.

Shimlas didn’t hesitate to kick the resultant penalty to touch. They reset their formidable maul, and scored.

Ndimande emerged from the pile of bodies and was credited with his third try of the evening.

The flanker had an outstanding match at the set pieces and at the breakdowns, but was particularly potent with ball in hand.

The Free State students lost their way in the third quarter, and conceded two yellow cards due to infringements on their own tryline.

Maties narrowed the deficit to 10 points – and may have reduced the gap further if not for their wayward goal-kicking.

Against the run of play, however, the 13-man Shimlas struck a telling blow. The result marks Shimlas’ third win against Maties in the history of the tournament – as well as their first victory against the men from Stellenbosch since 2015.

NWU EAGLES OUTPLAY UWC

In Potchefstroom, the FNB NWU Eagles claimed a convincing 40-19 bonus-point win over a plucky FNB UWC outfit

You have to admire the adventure and intent of UWC.

They were largely outplayed by the Eagles at the scrums and lineouts over the course of the contest on Monday.

The speed and quality of their passing game, however, stretched the NWU Eagles’ defence and created opportunities for lethal finishers such as Peter Williams on the outside.

The UWC wing touched down in the eighth minute to give his side an unexpected lead.

Thanks to the gargantuan presence of men like André Fouche at the breakdown, the Eagles managed to stall the visitors’ momentum.

They then proceeded to put their much-vaunted scrum and rolling maul into action.

With his team marching forward, flyhalf Nivan Petersen chipped the ball over the defence for his teammates to chase. Fullback Heinrich Botha claimed possession, and then threw a speculative offload to scrumhalf Riaan Genis.

A third try and conversion stretched the Eagles’ lead to 21-7. UWC hit back before halftime, though, by producing an enterprising surge to set Williams up for his second try.

This point-of-origin score as well as the accurate goal-kicking of Lyle Hendricks ensured that the visitors trailed by just two points at the break.

The Eagles lost Keano Windvogel to the sin bin in the 44th minute after the wing took Williams out in the air. UWC failed to capitalise on the one-man advantage, however, and the hosts escaped the period of sanction without conceding points.

By contrast, the NWU Eagles were quick to punish UWC when the visitors lost a player to the bin later in the contest.

When the ball bounced free from a lineout, Eagles prop Ruben du Plessis pounced on it to claim the bonus-point try.

From there, the NWU Eagles finished with a flourish to secure the first win of their 2022 campaign.

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IKEYS CLAIM COMEBACK WIN

In Cape Town, the FNB UCT Ikeys claimed a comeback win for the second successive week when they overturned a 24-5 halftime deficit to beat FNB UJ 26-24.

Hooker Alex Castle scored two tries for the hosts, with No 8 Jason MacLeod Smith’s 75th-minute bonus-point try from a lineout driving maul converted by fullback Duran Koevort.

UJ flyhalf Jonathan Viljoen had a chance to snatch victory in the last minute but his 45m attempt missed the mark.

Hooker Hloni Mphuthi scored two tries for the visitors.

TUKS DOWN MADIBAZ AS WITS WIN THRILLER AGAINST IXIAS

In Gqeberha, flank Dian Schoonees crossed the line twice as UP-Tuks recorded a 22-6 win against the FNB Madibaz.

The visitors led 10-0 at halftime, with flyhalf Chadwyn November scoring FNB Madibaz’s only points early in the second half.

In Johannesburg, winger Azi Afrika’s 75th-minute converted try and a late penalty from flyhalf Chris Humphries gave FNB Wits a thrilling 20-18 win against the FNB CUT Ixias.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes when flank Jan Kotze received a fourth-minute red card but were still able to lead 13-10 at the break.

They extended that to eight points when lock Kevin Strydom scored early in the second half but Wits would finish the match with a flourish.

VARSITY CUP ROUND 2 RESULTS AND SCORERS:

FNB NWU Eagles 40 (21) – Tries: Heinz Bertram, Riaan Genis, Vernon Paulo, Ruben du Plessis, Pienaar van Niekerk. Conversions: Nivan Petersen (3), Martin Venter. Penalty: Venter.

FNB UWC 19 (19) – Tries: Peter Williams (2). Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (2). Penalty: Hendricks.

FNB Player That Rocks: André Fouche (FNB NWU Eagles)

FNB UFS Shimlas 50 (26) – Tries: Thabo Ndimande (3), Thabang Mahlasi, Nathan Jordan, George Lourens, Jandre Nel. Conversions: Litha Nkula (4). Penalty: Nkula.

FNB Maties 28 (11) – Tries: Chris Rossouw, Sean Swart, De Wet Marais, Gift Dlamini. Conversion: Jurie Matthee. Penalties: Matthee (2).

FNB Player That Rocks: Thabo Ndimande (FNB UFS Shimlas)

FNB UCT Ikeys 26 (5) – Tries: Alexander Castle (2), Ntokozo Makhaza, Jason MacLeod Smith. Conversions: Duran Koevort (3).

FNB UJ 24 (24) – Tries: Hloni Mphuthi (2), Likhaya Tengimfene. Conversions: Jonathan Viljoen (3). Penalty: Viljoen.

FNB Player That Rocks: Luthando Woji (FNB UCT Ikeys)

FNB Madibaz 6 (0) – Penalties: Chadwyn November (2).

FNB UP-Tuks 22 (10) – Tries: Dian Schoonees (2), Louis Meiring, Francois Klopper. Conversion: Jandré Burger.

FNB Player That Rocks: Dian Coetzee (FNB UP-Tuks)

FNB Wits 20 (10) – Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Azi Afrika. Conversions: Chris Humphries (2). Penalties: Humphries (2).

FNB CUT Ixias 18 (13) – Tries: Jacquin van Wyk, Tiaan Drotske, Kevin Strydom. Penalty: Floris Brand.

FNB Player That Rocks: Chris Humphries (FNB Wits)

FNB Varsity Cup Round 3 fixtures (28 February):

FNB CUT Ixias vs FNB UFS Shimlas (17:00, CUT Rugby Stadium, SuperSport channel 211)
FNB UP-Tuks vs FNB UCT Ikeys (19:00, Tuks Stadium, SuperSport channel 211)
FNB Maties vs FNB Wits (19:00, Danie Craven Stadium)
FNB UJ vs FNB NWU Eagles (19:00, UJ Stadium)
FNB UWC vs FNB Madibaz (19:00, UWC Stadium)