UJ beat Pukke 36-31 in Potchefstroom in round two of the Varsity Cup, while there were also wins for Maties, Tuks and CUT.
A frenetic first half in Potch saw three tries scored, including UJ’s first nine-point try of the season by winger Aphiwe Dyantyi, as the visitors took a 17-12 lead into the break.
Pukke opened the scoring through winger Lucian Cupido before captain and flanker Jeandré Rudolph scored their second try.
The hosts took the lead early in the second half as centre Sylvian Mahuza rounded off their second nine-point try of the season to put them in front 23-17.
UJ regained the lead in the 50th minute with a converted penalty try before Dyantyi went over for his second try four minutes later. UJ Flyhalf Divan Nel converted the seven-point try to extend their advantage.
Then, they held on for the win as Pukke failed to reel them in despite scoring a fourth try through hooker Wilmar Arnoldi.
In Monday’s other fixtures, a 13-man Maties team came from behind to edge NMMU 27-25 in the closing minutes after leading 12-6 at half-time.
In Pretoria, Tuks relinquished a 43-15 lead as Shimlas fought their way back to win 47-46. The visitors scored four second-half tries to remain unbeaten.
In a low-scoring affair in Bloemfontein, hosts CUT edged UCT 10-9 for their first ever Varsity Cup win after trailing 9-0 after 15 minutes.
In the Varsity Shield, UWC won 21-15 against TUT, while UKZN thumped visitors Fort Hare 61-10 to remain unbeaten after three rounds.
Varsity Cup results (Round 2):
NMMU (25) – Tries: Kevin Aneh Kaba, Yamkela Ngam, Marzuq Maarman. Penalties: Simon Nord Bolze (2).
Maties (27) – Tries: Paul Streicher, Beyers de Villiers, Craig Corbett, Brendon Nel. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (2). Penalty: Stapelberg.
Pukke (31) – Tries: Lucian Cupido, Jeandré Rudolph, Sylvian Mahuza, Wimar Arnoldi. Conversions: Rhyno Smith (2). Penalty: Smith.
UJ (36) – Tries: Aphiwe Dyantyi (2), penalty try. Conversions: Divan Nel (3). Penalties: Nel (3).
Tuks (46) – Tries: Neethling Fouche, Riaan Britz, Ruan Steenkamp, Duhan van der Merwe, penalty try. Conversions: Joshua Stander (3). Penalty: Stander.
Shimlas (47) – Tries: Teunis Nieuwoudt, Mafuma Mosolwa (2), Nicolaas Immelman, Conrad van Vuuren, Marco Klopper. Conversions: Stephan Janse van Rensburg, Marco Mason (2). Penalty: Janse van Rensburg.
CUT (10) – Try: Clinton Toua. Conversion: Darron Baron. Penalty: Baron.
UCT (9) – Try: Hendrik Lategan. Conversion: Rob Anderson.
Varsity Shield results (Round 3):
TUT (15) – Tries: Tshepo Nyathi, TBC. Conversions: TBC
UWC (21) – Tries: Byron Burgess, TBC. Conversions: Darian Hock
UKZN (61) – Tries: Thobekani Buthulezi, Tristan Blewett (2), TBC. Conversions: Tristan Tredder (TBC).
UFH (10) – TBC
Photo: Mario van de Wall/SASPA
