UJ edged neighbours Wits 28-23 in Johannesburg, while there were also wins for Maties, Shimlas and Tuks in round eight of the Varsity Cup.
The victory sees UJ book their place in the semi-finals, but it was a win they had to grind out against their gutsy city rivals.
Despite conceding an early yellow card for a dangerous tackle, UJ did well to hit the front when No 8 Jo-Hanko de Villiers scored a converted try to break the 3-3 deadlock, following penalty goals from Warren Gilbert and Divan Nel.
After the strategic break, the hosts extended their lead to 15-3, but Wits fought back to level matters at 18-18 heading into the break.
But all their good work was undone when they copped two yellow cards in quick succession, and UJ needed no second invitation to take the ascendancy when the opportunity presented itself. The hosts added 10 points, courtesy of a converted try by lock Adrian Bester and a penalty from sharpshooter Nel.
With five minutes remaining, a try brought Wits back into the contest and they had a chance to win it or at least draw level in the dying seconds, but a handling error close to the tryline ended the game.
In other results, Maties hammered the struggling CUT 73-44, Shimlas defeated NMMU 23-7 and table-toppers Tuks secured a comfortable 44-23 triumph over UCT in Pretoria.
UJ (28) – Tries: Jo-Hanko de Villiers, Jaco Fourie, Adrian Bester. Conversions: Divan Nel (2). Penalties: Nel (3).
Wits (23) – Tries: CJ Conradie, Ruan Cloete, Graham Logan. Conversion: Warren Gilbert. Penalties: Gilbert (2).
CUT (44) – Tries: Henco Smit, Stefan Kruger, Reuben Heymans, Brendan Verster, Olwethu Ndakisa. Conversions: Martin Jacobs (4). Penalties: Jacobs (3).
Maties (73) – Tries: Craig Barry (4), Edwill van der Merwe, Johan Momsen, JE van der Merwe, Mitchell Carstens, Iver Aanhuizen. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (6), Ernst Stapelberg.
Shimlas (23) – Tries: Marco Mason, Vuyani Maqina, Nakkie Naude. Conversions: Mason (20.
NMMU (7) – Try: Andile Jho.
Tuks (44) – Tries: Andre Warner, Sibahle Maxwane, Toko Maebane, Penalty Try (2), Tinus de Beer. Conversions: De Beer (4).
UCT (23) – Tries: Cuan Hublutzel (2), Nyasha Tarusenga. Conversions: Lohan Lubbe (3).
Photo: Varsity Cup
