WRAP: The round-robin stages of the Varsity Cup have ended and the semifinalists have been decided in dramatic fashion as defending champs UFS showed their pedigree by beating Tuks in Pretoria.

The Shimlas’ win with a bonus point puts them in the fourth spot just one above the Eagles who absolutely crushed the Ixias in Potchefstroom, but failed to advance to the playoffs.

Maties cruised past Wits to claim the top spot on the log and a home semifinal while the loss sees the Witsies stay bottom of the log to be automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield.

UCT Ikeys triumphed over UJ in a highly competitive and exciting match. The Cape side ended the group stage in third and will face the Stripe Generation who finished second in Pretoria. The Orange Army ended their campaign in seventh and will go into the promotion-relegation playoff against Madibaz on May 5.

Playoffs:

April 7: Semifinal 1: Tuks vs UCT at Tuks Stadium

April 7: Semifinal 2: Maties vs UFS Shimlas at Danie Craven Stadium.

All Monday’s scores and scorers:

UJ 31-49 UCT Ikeys

UCT Ikeys triumphed over UJ in a highly competitive and exciting match, securing a 49-31 victory in what was a thrilling encounter.

The match began with UCT Ikeys striking first, capitalising on a penalty after UJ conceded from a dropped scrum. Winger Ntokozo Makhaza slotted the ball through the posts to give the visitors an early lead. Ikeys quickly built on this momentum, and in the 15th minute, Danio Botha spotted a gap in the UJ defense. The conversion was successful, and Ikeys extended their lead.

However, UJ wasn’t discouraged. The home side responded positively within a minute 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.

Leading to halftime, UJ had narrowed the deficit to just one point, with the Ikeys leading as the teams headed into the break.

The second half saw UJ come out determined to take control. Bian Janse van Rensburg found a gap in the Ikeys defense and crossed the line to score another try for UJ, keeping the game tight. The conversion was good, and UJ trailed by just three points.

But UCT Ikeys quickly regained the upper hand as Alex Vermeulen carried over the line to score, extending their lead. Despite a solid response from UJ, Ikeys remained clinical in their finishing.

With minutes remaining, Ikeys were awarded a penalty, and Duran Rayn Koevort made no mistake, slotting the ball through the posts to secure the win for the visitors.

Scorers:

UJ:

Tries: Dlamini, Koekman, Bosch, Ferreira, Janse Van Rensburg

UCT Ikeys:

Tries: Louw, Botha, Makhaza, Vermeulen, Daars

Player that Rocks: Monray Daars ( UCT)

Teams

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.

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 semifinal spot.

CUT Ixias opened the scoring through Zachery Bester, taking a 5-0 lead, but the Eagles quickly responded. Tian van Zyl’s try leveled the score at 5-5 before Ntobeko Shezi and Luan van der Walt’s double extended their advantage to 26-5.

Matthew Fortuin, Indiphile Tyeda, and Sean Roulston piled on the points. CUT’s Kevin Strydom scored late to make it 52-12, but the Eagles’ dominance was clear by halftime as they went into the break with a commanding 52-12 lead.

NWU Eagles continued their dominance in the second half, quickly extending their lead through Matthew Fortuin and Chyle van Zyl. CUT responded with a try from Raydon Swartbooi, but the Eagles remained relentless, with Guhan du Bois, Luan van der Walt, and Naiden Jaarts adding to the tally. By the 65th minute, the Eagles had reached 100 points, 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:

Tries: Van Der Walt 3, Jaarts 2, Van Zyl 2, Van Zyl 2, Fortuin 2, Shezi, Tyeda, Du Bois, Roulston, Zungu

CUT:

Tries: Bester, Strydom, Swartbooi

Player that Rocks: Ntobeko Shezi ( NWU Eagles)

Teams

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.

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 49-7 victory at Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday evening.

The visitors delivered a brilliant defensive effort in the first half, keeping Wits scoreless while racking up a 21-0 lead to the disappointment of the home crowd.

Despite their best efforts, Wits couldn’t put any points on the board, as the men from Stellenbosch ran rampant. Maties’ first-half tries came courtesy of a brace from CJ Erasmus and an incredible solo effort from outside centre Grant de Jager.

Inside centre CJ Marx was in fine form with the boot, converting all three tries for the Maroon Machine.

The second half saw Maties pick up where they left off, scoring immediately from the kickoff. Scrumhalf Mckyle Volmoer charged down a Wits clearance kick to dot down. 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, which kept them pinned in their own half.

Maties hooker CJ Erasmus completed his hat-trick in the second half, while Wits finally got on the board at the death through replacement loose forward Risima Khosa, with Tireque Apolles adding the conversion.

By the time the final whistle blew, it was the Maroon Machine who walked away with their heads held high after a resounding 49-7 victory.

Scorers:

Wits:

Try: Khosa

Maties:

Tries: Erasmus 3, De Jager 2, Volmoer, Van der Merwe.

Player that Rocks: Carel van der Merwe ( Maties)

Teams

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.

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 as they claimed a 48-35 victory against UP-Tuks at Tuks Stadium.

The visitors struck first as Jacobus Bezuidenhout opened the scoring from close range and Giddy converts. It didn’t take long as UP-Tuks’ Edwin Till dropped down over the whitewash levelling the score 7-7.

At 25 minutes, Shimlas hit back immediately after Nkoka Ngobe dived over for the point of origin try which was converted by flyhalf Bradley Pierre Giddy.

Kirwin du Preez silenced the Tuks fans and the Shimlas stretched their lead to 23-7 after 35 minutes. The match went on to the end the first stanza with the visitors leading 23-7.

In the second half, the hosts managed to compose themselves and at 44 minutes Hayn Kemp dragged his side bag into the game. After a great support line from his forwards, Kemp got the lucky bounce to score a point of origin try for the Stripe Generation, taking the score to 16-23.

A back-to-back try for the Stripe Generation, Bayanda Ngubane scored for the log leaders as he cut down the deficit.

But Shimlas was not going to sit back as Ben Pitout widened the gap once again. The visitors and defending champions showed why they won the title last year and walked away with all the points at the Capital securing a semifinal spot.

Scorers:

UP-Tuks:

Tries: Till, Kemp, Ngubane, Zenzile

UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Bezuidenhout, Pitout, Zondani, Ngobe, Du Preez, Uys

Player that Rocks: Ramon Uys ( UFS Shimlas)

Teams

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.

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