FNB Varsity Cup round 3 sees Maroon Machine demolish the Ixias, Ikeys hand Tuks their first defeat and a thriller in Bloemfontein.
Shimlas 49 – 45 UJ
A twelve try thriller in Bloemfontein was the highlight of Round 3, where defending champions UFS held on to narrowly beat a surging Orange Army. Shimlas dominated the opening forty minutes, but the Orange Army fought like Trojans in the second stanza. In the second 40-minute period, UJ took the game to the defending champions, capitalising as the home team played with 14 men for 20 minutes following two yellow cards. However, they were denied by a crucial seven-point try from Lilitha Lunqe, which put the game out of reach.
Scorers:
FNB UFS 49 (40):
Tries: Ramon Uys 2, Liam Shamburg, Vice Hofmeyer, Hlumelo Klaas (point-of- origin), Lilitha Lunqe (point-of-origin).
FNB UJ 45 (14):
Tries: Ryan Marimo, Adriano Jackson (one point-of-origin) 2, Dylan Viljoen, Ughan Africa, Alzeadon Felix (point-of-origin).
FNB Player that Rocks: Ramon Uys (UFS)
Teams:
UFS: Regan Izaks, Kirwin du Preez, Nkoka Ngobe, Alwich van der Linde, Lilitha Lunqe, Bradley Gibby, Hlumelo Klaas, Maynard Kleynhans, Liam Shmaburg, Ramon Uys, Juan Venter, Reinier Viljoen, Ben Pitout, Vice Hofmeyer, Ntokozo Hlope.
UJ: Oela Blaauw, Michail Damon, Adriano Jackson, Reuven Ferreira, Ughan Africa, Alzeadon Felix, Zian Cilliers, Dylan Viljoen, Muzuva Gutu, Siyamukela Ndlovu, Josh du Toit, Neil Hansen, Ali Gqaza, Ryan Marimo, Damian Baker.
Wits 34 – 39 NWU Eagles
Wits and NWU Eagles entered the game both winless in two attempts, with this game serving as an early do-or-die for both teams. The first 30 minutes saw a low-scoring affair with both teams going all out in a ping-pong battle. The score at half time saw the hosts hold on to a 15 – 12 lead. After dominating the second half, NWU Eagles survived a late scare at the Wits Rugby Stadium to claim the win.
Scoreres:
Wits 34 (15):
Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Drew Bennet, Lindani Dweba.
NWU Eagles 39 (12):
Tries: Tsepo Tlaka, Hanro Venter, Guhan Du Bois, Luhan van der Walt, Ricardo Fourie, Jordan Mcloughlin.
FNB Player that Rocks: Drew Bennet (Wits).
Teams:
Wits: Dagan Meuwese, Justin Amos, Ricardo Brandao, Kgoposto Matlena, Hayden Munnery, Joshua van Vreden, Luke Cannon, Thomas Beling, Drew Bennet, Setshaba Mokoena (C), Ngia Selengbe, Tirhani Masons, Liyema Matyolweni, Dustyn Holmes, Lindani Dweba.
NWU Eagles: Alethwa Buthelezi, Hanro Venter, Ntobeko Shezi, Tsepo Tlaka, Stephan Krugel (C), Guhan Du Bois, Schalk Van Schalkwyk, Sean Roulston, Divan Du Toit, Stehan Heymans, Joubert Schoeman, Isrome Phatudi, Matthew Fortuin, Naiden Jaarts, Luan Van der Walt.
Maties 54 – 0 CUT
The FNB Maties made it three victories in a row in the Varsity Cup competition when they demolished FNB CUT Ixias in a round three clash at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. The Maroon Machine massacred the Ixias by a whopping 54-0 after they led 28-0 at halftime.
Scorers:
Maties 54 (28):
Tries: Fortune Mpofu, Grant van Heerden, Carel van der Merwe (2), Armand Combrinck, Joel Leotela, CJ Erasmus (2).
CUT 0 (0):
FNB Player that Rocks: Luan Botha (Maties).
Teams:
Maties: Jason Johnson, Armand Combrink, Herman Lubbe, Zuko Poswa, Carel Van Der Merwe, Fortune Mpofu, Luan Botha, Ethan Snyman, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Christiaan Van Heerden Smith, Dylan Miller, Cj Marx, Grant De Jager, Joel Leotlela, Elridge Jack.
CUT: Jan Hendrik Bessenger, Tokelo Ntaopane, Malcolm Lamont, Asekho Marubelela, Kevin Strydom, Jt Van Der Walt, Jakobus Cloete, Francois Bester, Raydon Swartbooi, Matthys Corneluis Malan, Adielson Gouveia, Liam Prinsloo, Rorisang Masoeu, Clive Hartzenberg, Devinto Vergotine.
UCT Ikeys 36 – 29 UP-Tuks
A back-and-forth contest unfolded in Cape Town as the UTC Ikeys chased their second win of the season while UP-Tuks looked to maintain their 100% record. Ntokozo Makhaza booted FNB UCT Ikeys into the lead after five minutes before scoring the first try of the match just moments later. Both sides picked up yellow cards late into the second half and Tuks pushed and threatened until the final but it was the Ikeys who held firm and kept the visitors out for a win at the Green Mile.
Scorers:
UCT 36 (26):
Tries: Tries: Keagan Blanckenberg, Kian Davis, Luke Burger, Aidan Norris.
UP-Tuks 29 (22):
Tries: Ruan Van Blommestein 2, Mj Nel, Andile Myeni.
FNB Player that Rocks: Kian Davis (UCT).
Teams:
UCT: Matthew Beckett, Keagan Blanckenberg, Bryan Le Roux, Enos Ndiao, Danio Botha, Siphomezo Dyonase, Aden Da Costa, Aidan Norris, Asad Moos, Alex Vermeulen, Ntokozo Makhaza, Luke Burger, Kian Davis, Rethabile Louw, Duran Rayn Koevort.
UP-Tuks: Mj Nel, Ruan Van Blommestein, Bom Louw, Jw Mare, David Engongo, Kamohelo Tlome, Cayno February, Dillon Smith, Chad-lee Valentine, Jp Wentzel, Ambesa Zenzile, Kobus Janse Van Rensburg, Christiaan Vlok, Andile Myeni, Tharquinn Manuel.
Check out the fixtures, results and log: HERE
You can buy tickets for the next round: HERE
Courtesy Varsity Cup and Varsity Sports
