The round robin stages of the FNB Varsity Cup have ended and the semi-finalists have been decided in dramatic fashion as defending champs UFS showed their pedigree by beating Tuks in Pretoria. The Shimlas win with a bonus points puts them in 4th spot just one above the Eagles who absolutely crushed the Ixias in Potch, but fail to advance to the playoffs in 5th.
Maties cruised past Wits to claim top spot on the log and a home semi-final while the loss sees the Witsies stay bottom of the log to be automatically relegated to the FNB Varsity Shield. UCT Ikeys triumphed over UJ in a highly competitive and exciting match. The Cape side end the group stage in 3rd and will face the Stripe Generation who finished 2nd in Pretoria. The Orange Army end their campaign in 7th and will go into the promotion relegation playoff against Madibaz on the 5th May.
Playoffs:
Semi-final 1: FNB Tuks vs FNB UCT, 7 April, 4:45pm at Tuks Stadium
Semi-final 2: FNB Maties vs FNB UFS Shimlas, 7 April, 7pm at Danie Craven Stadium.
UJ 31 – 49 UCT Ikeys
UCT Ikeys triumphed over UJ, securing victory in what was a thrilling encounter. The match began with FNB UCT Ikeys striking first, capitalising on a penalty after FNB UJ conceded from a dropped scrum. Ikeys continued to build on this lead but UJ responded positively 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. By half time UJ had narrowed the deficit to just one point, with the Ikeys leading as the teams headed into the break. UCT Ikeys quickly regained the upper hand and extended their lead in the second half. Despite a solid response from UJ, Ikeys remained clinical in their finishing and took full points.
Scorers:
UJ: 31 (19)
Tries: Sifiso Dlamini, Coun-lee Koekman, Berwyn Bosch, Reuven Ferreira, Bian Janse Van Rensburg.
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 semi-final spot. FNB CUT Ixias opened the scoring through Zachery Bester, taking the score to 5 – 0, but the Eagles quickly responded before rampaging to a 26 – 5 lead. The Eagles remained relentless and reached 100 points in the 65th minute, 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:
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.
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 victory at Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday evening. The visitors kept Wits scoreless, to the disappointment of the home crowd. The second half saw Maties pick up where they left off, scoring immediately from the kickoff. The visitors continued to dominate the physical exchanges, making life difficult for Wits. However, the hosts refused to roll over and tested the Maties defense, which held firm. Wits were once again guilty of too many errors and by the time the final whistle blew, it was the Maroon Machine who walked away with their heads held high after a resounding victory.
Scorers:
Wits: 7 (0)
Tries: Risima Khosa.
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 last say against UP-Tuks at Tuks Stadium. The visitors struck first but it didn’t take long for UP-Tuks to level the score 7 – 7. Shimlas then stretched their lead to 23 – 7 after 35 minutes. Tuks managed to compose themselves in the second half as they tried to get back into the game but Shimlas were not going to sit back and allow any advantage. The visitors eventually walked away with all the points at the Capital.
Scorers:
UP-Tuks: 35 (7)
Tries: Edwin Till, Haydn Kemp, Bayanda Ngubane (2), Ambesa Zenzile.
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
You can see the standings and log here
Buy your tickets here
Courtesy of Varsity Cup and Varsity Sports
