Wits upset Tuks 25-19 in Johannesburg, while there were also wins for UCT, Maties and UJ in round two of the Varsity Cup.
Wits – who beat Ikeys in Cape Town last week – are now second on the log, with Tuks, who lost at home to Shimlas in round one, languishing in seventh.
It was Tuks who drew first blood with a try from centre Toko Seerane after a break from Xolisa Guma. However, Wits then took their power play and responded with a seven-point try from centre Sicelo Champion.
Wits went into half-time with an 18-14 lead, thanks to another converted seven-point try from wing Kwanele Ngema, after flyhalf Christian Humphries had broken the line from inside his half.
Tuks responded with a brace from Guma, before Wits wing Dan Kapupela scored straight from the restart.
In a tightly contested match, both sides played expansively. It was the Wits’ defence, however, that made the difference as they had to defend their tryline several times and managed to turn the ball over brilliantly in the closing stages of the match.
WATCH: Wits captain’s passionate post-match interview
In Stellenbosch, Maties wing Duncan Saal continued his fine start to the season as he scored a hat-trick in their 56-21 demolition of Shimlas. Maties’ second consecutive bonus-point win sees them top the log.
In Johannesburg, CUT put up a good fight to lead UJ 10-7 at half-time thanks to a try by flyhalf Denver Kleu. But the visitors soon ran out of steam, as UJ scored five second-half tries to win 48-21.
Earlier in the day, UCT put on a powerful forward display to beat an expansive NMU side 27-17 in Port Elizabeth. Two tries from scrums won against the feed in the Madibaz 22 turned the tie in favour of the visitors.
Varsity Cup results (Round 2):
NMU (17) – Tries: Simon Bolze, Siphumelele Msutwana. Conversion: Simon Bolze. Penalties: Bolze (2).
UCT (27) – Tries: Pieter Schoonraad, Nyasha Tarusenga, Cuan Hablutzel. Conversions: Karl Martin, Lohan Lubbe. Penalty: Matin.
Maties (56) – Tries: Marno Redelinghuys, Edwill van der Merwe, Duncan Saal (3), Chippie Oelofse, Chris Smith. Conversions: Chris Smith (5), Reinhardt Fortuin. Penalty: Smith.
Shimlas (21) – Tries: Saida Xamlashe (2), Athi Halom. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela, Charl Naude (2).
Wits (25) – Tries: Sicelo Champion, Kwanele Ngema, Kasende Kapepula. Conversions: Christian Humphries (3).
Tuks (19) – Tries: Toko Seerane, Xolisa Guma (2). Conversion: Tinus de Beer.
Photo: Dominic Barnardt/Varsity Sports
