Flyhalf Chris Smith scored 16 points as Maties lashed UCT 47-16 in Cape Town, while there were also wins for UJ, Tuks and Shimlas in round five of the Varsity Cup on Monday.
Despite the contrast in form between the sides in recent weeks, the Western Cape derby at UCT’s renowned Green Mile was billed as the match of the round. And for the opening quarter it seemed as if it would live up to the hype and produce another classic encounter. Once Maties found their rhythm, however, they reduced UCT to bystanders along with the home crowd.
UCT dominated early on, but could only muster a three-point lead courtesy of a monstrous 55m penalty by Lohan Lubbe. Maties hit back with three quick tries from Craig Barry, Smith and Duncan Saal. And while UCT added six more points, via a penalty and a drop goal, to their tally, they trailed the visitors 23-9 at the half-time.
The crowd found their voice again after the break as the hosts’ captain Nyasha Tarusenga barged over from close range to reduce the deficit to a meager seven points, but Maties, and in particular Smith, had other ideas. They breached UCT’s defence freely and ran in four more tries with Saal and Smith both completing their braces to seal yet another bonus-point victory.
Elsewhere, flank Chris Massyn grabbed a double to guide Tuks to a 25-9 win against Wits, UJ inflicted a 73-20 defeat on the struggling CUT and Shimlas beat Pukke 35-23 in Bloemfontein.
UCT (16) – Try: Nyasha Tarusenga. Conversion: Joel Smith. Penalties: Smith, Lohan Lubbe. Drop goal: Robert Anderson.
Maties (47) – Tries: Craig Barry, Craig Smith (2), Duncan Saal (2), Michal Haznar, Stephan Streiche. Conversions: Smith (3).
Tuks (25) – Tries: Chris Massyn (2), Dewald Naude. Conversions: Thinus de Beer, Joshua Stander. Penalties: De Beer (2).
Wits (9) – Penalties: Warren Gilbert (3).
CUT (20) – Tries: Ruben Heymans, Martin Jacobs and Darron Adonis. Conversion: Jacobs. Penalty: Jacobs.
UJ (73) – Tries: Godfrey Ramaboea, Ewan Adams (2), Aphiwe Dyantyi, Jannes Snyman, Jaco Fourie, Leon Massyn, Estian Enslin and Wian Conradie. Conversions: Divan Nel (8).
Shimlas (35) – Tries: Nicolaas Immelman, Dian Badenhorst, Daniel Maartens, Bernardus Erasmus. Conversions: Marco Mason (3).
Pukke (23) – Tries: Jimmy Mpailane, Wandile Mazibuko, Morné Steyn. Conversions: Schalk Hugo, Julian Delicado (2).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
