It was an exciting day in the FNB Varsity Cup round 4 on Monday night as FNB NWU Eagles stunned the defending champions FNB UFS Shimlas at Fanie Du Toit Sports Ground. The FNB UP-Tuks ran riot over FNB CUT at CUT Park in Bloemfontein while FNB UCT Ikey scored all their tries against FNB Wits at Green Mile. The night also saw a victory for FNB Maties over FNB UJ in UJ Stadium.
CUT 26 – 63 UP-Tuks
UP-Tuks returned to winning ways by defeating CUT 63-26. The first half was a tightly contested affair, with the lead changing hands multiple times. However, the visitors turned on the style in the second stanza to claim a convincing win against the team that had beaten them in Bloemfontein two years ago. The Ixias put up a valiant fight, but they simply didn’t have enough to stop UP-Tuks from exacting revenge.
Scorers:
CUT: 26 (14)
Tries – Tokelo Ntaopane, Clive Hartzenberg (point-of-origin), Leon Franzsen, Jordan Davids.
UP-Tuks: 63 (19)
Tries: Penalty Try, Munashe Dukuswa 2, Edwin Till 2, Daimon O'Connell (point-of- origin), Chad-Lee Valentine, Kobus Janse van Rensburg (point-of-origin), Lilitha Matsiliza.
FNB Player that Rocks: Haydn Kemp (FNB UP-Tuks)
Teams:
FNB CUT: Devinto Vergotine, Adielson Gouveia, Rorisang Masoeu, Liam Prinsloo, Clive Hartzenberg, Matthys Malan, Raydon Swartbooi, Francois Bester (c), Janko Cloete, JT Van Der Walt, Kevin Strydom, Asekho Marubelela, Sisipho Nofuya, Tokelo Ntaopane, Jan-Hendrik Bessenger.
FNB UP-Tuks: Ambesa Zenzile, Munashe Dukuswa, Tharquinn Manuel, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Andile Myeni, JP Wentzel, Daimon O'Connell, Dillon Smith (c), Haydn Kemp, Kamohelo Tlome, David Engongo, JW Mare, Jayd Austin, Edwin Till, MJ Nel.
NWU Eagles 59 – 14 UFS Shimlas
The Eagles secured their second consecutive victory with a dominant performance against the defending champions. After getting off to a strong start, the NWU Eagles spent the next 15 minutes under pressure as Shimlas applied relentless attacks. This could not stop the home side from securing a commanding 15-0 advantage before the break. The Eagles continued their winning ways early in the second half, extending their lead to 22-0 in the 47th minute. Shimlas finally responded in the 55th minute, narrowing the gap to 29-7. While the visitors managed to score again, the home side had the final say and sealed the victory.
Scorers:
NWU Eagles: 59 (15)
Tries: Nico Liversage, Ricardo Fourie, Guhan du Bois, Tian Van Zyl, Schalk Van Schalkwyk, Indiphile Tyeda, Isrome Phatudi, Luan van der Walt.
UFS Shimlas: 14 (0)
Tries: Nkoke Ngobe
FNB Player that Rocks: Luan van der Walt (FNB NWU Eagles)
Teams:
FNB NWU Eagles: Alethwa Buthelezi, Chyle Van Zyl, Ntobeko Shezi, Tsepo Tlaka, Stephan Krugel (C), Ricardo Fourie, Tian Van Zyl, Guhan Du Bois, Sanele Zungu, Stehan Heymans, Indiphile Tyeda, Nico Liversage, Matthew Fortuin, Naiden Jaarts, Luan Van der Walt.
FNB UFS Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlope, Vice Hofmeyer, Ben Pitout, Reinier Viljoen, Juan Venter. Marno Stopforth, Liam Shamburg, Fano Linde, Hlumelo Klaas, Tiaan Kriek, Lilitha Lunqe, Alwich Van Der Linde, Nkoka Ngobe (C), Kirwin du Preez, Regan Izaks.
UJ 7 – 25 Maties
UJ’s search for their first win of the FNB Varsity Cup 2025 season continued as they fell short in round 4 against Maties, losing 25 – 7 in a hard-fought encounter. Maties quickly opened their account with two tries and while UJ had opportunities to respond, they missed crucial chances to narrow the deficit. The home side finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a penalty try, but it wasn’t enough to get over Maties’s dominance.
Scorers:
UJ: 0 (7)
Tries: Penalty try
Maties: 25 (15)
Tries: Ryan Manuel, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Carel van der Merwe, Armand Combrink.
FNB Player that Rocks: Ezekiel Ngobeni (FNB Maties)
Teams:
FNB UJ: Damian Baker, Ryan Marimo, Ali Gqaza, Jaden Baillie, Josh Toit, Siyemukela Ndlovu ©, Muzuva Gutu, Dylan Viljoen, Berwyn Bosch, Oela Blaauw, Ughan Africa, Reuven Ferreira, Sifiso Dlamini, Okwan Oavane, Michali Damon.
FNB UCT Ikeys: Jason Johnson, CJ Erasmus, Herman Lubbe, Zuko Poswa, Carel Van Der Merwe, Fortune Mpofu, Luan Botha, Ethan Snyman, Ezekiel Ngobeni ©, Christaan van Heerden Smith, Dylan Miller, Grant De Jager, Ryan Manuel, Joel Leotlela, Elridge Jack.
UCT Ikeys 73 – 17 Wits
UCT Ikeys delivered a scintillating first half performance to thrash Wits 73 -17 at the Green Mile. The home side needed to be solid at the back in the early exchanges with Wits starting brightest. It took just 10 minutes for the opening try of the game, which was scored by Ikey’s captain, Keagan Blanckenberg. The team were relentless in the first half and by the 27th minute, UCT already secured a bonus point as they ran in six first half tries to go 45-0 up at the break. The visitors refused to lie down despite the scoreboard constantly ticking in favour of Ikeys but the mountain was too big for Wits to climb.
Scorers:
UCT Ikeys: 73 (45)
Tries: Rethabile Louw 2, Keagan Blanckenberg, Duran Koevort, Ntokozo Makhaza, Asad Moos, Thomas Nel 2, Aidan Norris, Aden Da Costa.
Wits: 17 (0)
Tries: Lindani Dweba, Kevin Chirwa, Penalty Tries.
FNB Player that Rocks: Keagan Blanckenberg (FNB UCT Ikeys)
Teams:
FNB UTC Ikeys: Matthew Beckett, Keagan Blanckenberg (C), Bryan le Roux, Enos Ndiao, Danio Botha, Xola Nyali, Connor Jack Gordon, Aidan Norris, Asad Moos, Alex Vermeulen, Ntokozo Makhaza, Luke Burger, Kian Davis, Rethabile Louw, Duran Rayn Koevort, Johan Lombard, Lukhanyiso Bomela, Mhleli Khuzwayo, Keenan Mills, Aden Da Costa, Josh Miller, Thomas Nel, Isaiah Louw.
FNB Wits: Dagan Meuwese, Justin Amos, Ricardo Brandao, Hayden Munnery, Christopher Kachungunu, Joshua (V) Van Vreden, Luke Cannon, Thomas Beling, Drew Bennet, 10 Setshaba Mokoena (C), Kevon Chirwa, Tirhani Masondo, Liyema Matyolweni, Ngia Selengbe, Lindani Dweba, Paoliantinio Mariano, Thomas Meintjies, Waldo Muller, Joshua Ferreira, Risima Khosa, Tristan van Niekerk, Tireque Apolles, Keith Chirwa.
See the fixtures, results and log: HERE
Get your hands on tickets: HERE
Courtesy Varsity Cup and Varsity Sports
