Dan Jooste and Gift Dlamini both scored braces as Maties powered to a 77-5 derby victory over UWC in Bellville on Monday. DYLAN JACK reports.
The victory had Maties go three for three as the defending champions continued to carry their form through from their first two games at the Danie Craven Stadium. It is the third straight game where Maties have scored 60 points, leaving their opponents grasping at thin air.
Unbelievably, the Maroon Machine are unbeaten since the start of the 2018 season and probably look to go unbeaten through to the playoffs this year unless Tuks or NWU can pull something off.
As expected, the contest itself was rather one-sided as the visitors dominated almost every aspect of the game, leaving UWC feeding on scraps.
It was an ominous start as hooker Dan Jooste went over from a maul after just one minute and it did not get better as Maties went on to score a further four first-half tries.
Maties contiued their momentum in the second half as Dewald Naude crossed for a fine individual point-of-origin try, before Jooste powered through for his brace.
To UWC’s credit, they did manage to convert when they got the opportunity in the first half as wing Peter Williams went over in the corner after their first real, sustained period of pressure.
The home side are still a ways off from providing a real challenge for the best side in the competition and will be looking to their next two games against CUT and UJ to continue their push for a top-five finish.
UWC – Try: Peter Williams.
Maties – Tries: Dan Jooste (2), Marcel Theunissen, Geor Malan, Gift Dlamini (2), Matthew Dahl, Dewald Naude, Ricky Nwagbara, David Brits (2). Conversions: Reinhardt Fortuin (8).
UWC – 15 Gilroy Philander, 14 Peter Williams, 13 Schalk Carstens, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Aydon Topley, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Adrian Paarwater, 7 Tinotenda Mavesere, 6 Jason Alexander, 5 Matthew le Roux, 4 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl (c), 1 Luvo Basi.
Subs: 16 Mark Fairhurst, 17 Dandre Degenaar, 18 Curtly Thomas, 19 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 20 Branden de Kock, 21 Tiaan-Thomas Henecke, 22 Darren Jaftha, 23 Keon Links.
Maties – 15 Anton du Toit, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Dewald Naude, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Matthew Dahl, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Mitch Carstens, 6 Geor Malan, 5 BJ Dixon (c), 4 Zirk Jansen, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Subs: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Willem Liebenberg, 20 Gerrit Huisamen, 21 Gift Dlamini, 22 Remu Malan, 23 Waqar Solaan.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
