SEMIFINALS WRAP: The finalists of Varsity Shield 2025 have been decided, with Varsity College set to face Madibaz on April 11.

The Comets have already secured automatic promotion after topping the log at the end of the group stages and continued their fine form by outclassing CPUT in Durban.

In Gqeberha, Madibaz booked their ticket to the final after dispatching UWC with relative ease.

Madibaz 41-24 UWC

For two heartbreaking years, Madibaz failed to advance past the semifinal stage of the Varsity Shield. That all changed in Gqeberha on Friday afternoon.

A slew of tries by the home side in the first half did enough damage to ensure that the visitors simply had too much to do in the second stanza.

The Capetonians drew first blood in the fifth minute when centre Braydon Booysen crashed over, but from that point on, the half belonged to the Madibaz.

Kyle Erasmus added to his impressive Shield try tally after a powerful rolling maul, centre Eddie Kruger rounded off a superb bit of handling by the Madibaz backs before wing Emihle Zaza took advantage of poor handling by the visitors to stroll in for his five-pointer.

Three minutes before the break prop Imibongo Mvuleni got in on the action with a copybook front-rower’s charge over the line.

It looked like the floodgates would open when Madibaz skipper Leon van der Merwe caught the opposition napping with a quick tap-and-go to put his name on the scoresheet nine minutes into the second half.

However, with no option but to attack, UWC started to find some rhythm and were rewarded with three unanswered tries by Leighton Damon, skipper Romuald Nsombamanya and replacement hooker Tyanase Mihlali.

It was too little, too late, though as the Madibaz secured their place in the Final that had eluded them for so long.

The scorers:

For Madibaz:
Tries: Erasmus, Kruger, Zaza, Mvuleni, Van der Merwe.
Cons: Milborrow 5
Pens: Milborrow 2

For UWC:
Tries: Booysen, Damon, Nsombamanya, Mihlali
Cons: Swartz 2

Player That Rocks: Leon van der Merwe (Madibaz)

Teams:

Madibaz: 15 Layron Milborrow, 14 Emihle Zaza, 13 Edward Kruger, 12 Lwando Davane, 11 Bukho Pantsi, 10 Raashied Conrad, 9 Curwin Casper, 8 Leon van der Merwe, 7 Dewald Gerber, 6 Sean van Zijl, 5 Martinus Strydom, 4 Calvin Bosch, 3 Lihlumelo Mantewu, 2 Kyle Erasmus, 1 Imibongo Mvuleni.

UWC: 15 Aaron Swartz, 14 Keith Syster, 13 Leigh Braaf, 12 Braydon Booysen, 11 Hlomla Ncana, 10 Elkan Willemse, 9 Conwill Conradie, 8 Leighton Demon, 7 Logan Fortuin, Romauld Nsombamanya, 5 Alexander-Jaco Van Der Merwe, 4 Melumzi Mandongana, 3 Keanuh Michaels, 2 Marciano Forbes, 1 Daniel Damons.

Referee: Caleb Hibbert

Varsity College 52-17 CPUT

Varsity College delivered a statement performance in Durban North as they overwhelmed CPUT 52–17 to book their place in the Varsity Shield Final.

The Comets were first on the board in the 13th minute when Jacques Marais dotted down off a line-out driving maul, showcasing his trademark power. Drico Marx added the extras from the touchline to make it 7–0.

Just two minutes later, a deliberate knockdown by Oyintando Maseti saw the referee go to the TMO, who ruled a probable try. A penalty try was awarded, and Varsity College doubled their lead to 14–0.

The momentum didn’t stop there. In the 18th minute, Edward Siguake tore down the touchline before offloading to captain Abande Mthembu, who finished the move with style.

Marx slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 21–0. That scoreline remained unchanged at half-time, with the Comets firmly in control after three unanswered tries.

The second half began just as the first ended, with Varsity College applying pressure. Former Northwood 1st team captain Enzo Van Niekerk added his name to the scoresheet in the 50th minute with a blistering run, and Marx converted once more to make it 28–0.

CPUT finally found a response in the 58th minute through Gerald Ghambi, who powered over the line. However, the missed conversion from Maseti left them trailing 5-28.

Varsity College quickly hit back, and in the 62nd minute, Marx capitalized on a forward-dominated attack to score. Although his conversion hit the upright, the Comets led 33–5.

Jacques Marais wasn’t done yet. In the 73rd minute, he secured his brace off another powerful driving maul. Marx added the extras as the scoreboard stretched to 40–5.

Though the game was slipping away, the Blue Wave continued to fight. Clyde Frieslaar produced a determined finish in the 75th minute, crashing over with two defenders on him.

The successful conversion made it 40–12.

Just minutes later, Iwaan Bloys added another for CPUT, blazing down the wing, although the conversion was missed.

Varsity College answered back in the 78th minute when fullback Chandler Green danced through defenders to score. Marx missed the conversion, but it was 45–17 heading into added time.

In the final act of the match, No.8 Juan Steyl finished things off with a pick-and-go try and converted it himself to seal the emphatic 52–17 victory.

Varsity College:
Tries: Marais 2, Penalty Try, Mthembu, Van Niekerk, Marx, Green, Steyl
Cons: Marx 4, Steyl

CPUT:
Tries: Ghambi, Frieslaar, Bloys
Con: Titus

Player that Rocks: Jacques Marais (Varsity Cup)

Teams:

Varsity College: 15 Chandler Green, 14 Allston Cedras, 13 MJ Scoeman, 12 Mambo Mkhize, 11 Edward Sigaude, 10 Frederick Marx, 9 Abande Mthembu (captain), 8 Juan Orde Steyl, 7 Enzo van Niekerk, 6 Khumo-etsile Nkutha, 5 Garren Muller, 4 Robert Everson, 3 Mbuso Kweyama, 2 Jacques Marais, 1 Okuhlekodwa Meyiwa.

CPUT: 15 Keewan Titus, 14 Noah Pekeur, 13 Jacquin Farrol Jacubus, 12 Timothy Matthew Shortless, 11 Iwaan Bloys, 10 Oyintando Honour Maseti, 9 Jayson January, 8 Denely Krid Adams, 7 Philasande Ngcobo, 6 Preveen Rahul Padayachiey, 5 Odwa Rolosi, 4 Nqaba Mveliso Nkonyeni, 3 Keiran Delaan Naidoo (captain), 2 Kyle Ahrendse, 1 Nkosephayo Sbusiso Ngema.

Referee: Daniel Canhenga