Wrap: CUT stun Maties, Udubs get big win

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CUT continued their record-breaking season with a historic first-ever victory over Maties, while there were Varsity Cup round-six wins for UWC, Shimlas and TBC.

CUT IXIAS 23 (0) MATIES 18 (15)

CUT recorded their greatest feat as they scored a last-minute try to beat Maties at the Tuks B-Field.

With the scores locked at 18-18, a spilt ball from Maties on halfway was picked up by CUT lock Derik Pretorius, who stormed upfield before putting fullback Cohen Jasper away for the match-winning try.

It is the first time that the three-time Varsity Shield winners have beaten the five-time Varsity Cup champions.

As expected, the massive storm in Pretoria during the night and long into the morning, caused both teams to struggle to assert themselves as unforced errors ruled the day.

The Maroon Machine found their attacking groove on one occasion as scrumhalf Lian du Toit was on hand to receive the final pass to score an early point-of-origin try. 

However, the first half dissolved into a stop-start affair, with opportunities to attack being stifled by mistakes and the remaining points coming courtesy of flyhalf Christian Schreuder’s boot.

A yellow card to Maties flank Mitchell Carstens allowed the Ixias to fan the flames on attack, which they capitalised on off a powerful lineout drive with flank Hans Terblanche being credited with the try.

With their tails up, CUT were rampant on attack and received their just rewards as inside centre Heino Bezuidenhout smashed his way over for an unconverted try just before the second strategy break.

A penalty apiece by the kickers kept the scores level until Jasper snatched a dramatic win for the Ixias.

Player That Rocks: Zinedine Booysen (CUT Ixias)

CUT Ixias – Tries: Hans Terblanche, Heino Bezuidenhout, Cohen Jasper. Conversion: Charles Williams. Penalties: Williams (2).
Maties – Try: Lian du Toit (1×7). Conversion: Christian Schreuder. Penalties: Schreuder (3).

MADIBAZ 20 (5) UFS SHIMLAS 24 (12)

UFS Shimlas scored an 81st-minute try against the Madibaz to record their first win of the 2021 Varsity Cup.

The Free Staters opted to kick a late penalty to touch rather than at goal, which would have given them a draw. And that bold approach paid off as replacement wing Luyanda Mkhize scored in the right-hand corner.

Much like the earlier match on the Tuks B-Field, proceedings were dampened by the conditions. However, it did little to prevent Shimlas from running from all areas on the pitch as they capitalised on the Madibaz’s poor discipline.

Shimlas inside centre JP Duvenage knocked over four penalties to hand them a 12-0 lead at the first strategy break, before Madibaz lock Hardus van Eeden crashed over from a lineout for an unconverted try.

The second half belonged to the men from the Eastern Cape as an early penalty coupled with two tries courtesy of wing Nkoka Ngobe and prop Le-Kleu Stokes gave them a slender lead, despite Shimlas scoring a try via inside centre Janco Klinck.

But the men from Bloemfontein snatched victory when Mkhize – who had just come off the bench – touched down in the corner, with Duvenage adding the conversion.

Player That Rocks: Luyolo Dapula (Madibaz)

Madibaz – Tries: Hardus van Eeden, Nkoka Ngobe, Le-Kleu Stokes. Conversion: Tiaan Schutte. Penalty: Tiaan Schutte.
UFS Shimlas – Tries: Janco Klinck, Luyanda Mkhize. Conversion: JP Duvenage. Penalties: Duvenage (4).

UWC 31 (0) UJ 5 (5)

UWC scored three second-half tries to claim a comfortable win over UJ at Loftus Versfeld.

UJ scored the only try of a tight first half, but it was the Capetonians who dominated the second, with two late tries by centre Andre Manuel inflating the score.

After an uneventful first 20 minutes, UJ broke the deadlock when wing Prince Nkabinde powered over from close range to score.

UWC were reduced to 14 men late in the first half when lock Bronlee Mouries was yellow-carded for collapsing an UJ maul. However, they did not concede any points while he was off the field.

UWC scrumhalf Branden de Kock kicked a penalty early in the second half before UJ No 8 Siyabonga Masuku was sent to the sin bin.

Four minutes later, UWC replacement flyhalf Ethan Diston scored a superb point-of-origin try, with De Kock kicking the conversion and then adding a penalty to make it 15-5.

UJ had more than one chance to get back into the game but their execution and finishing cost them.

UWC then sealed the deal when Manuel ran in two late tries, the first a seven-pointer, to secure their second win of the competition.

Player That Rocks: Justin Theys (UWC)

UJ – Try: Prince Nkabinde.
UWC – Tries: Ethan Diston (1×7), Andre Manuel (1×7, 1×5). Conversions: Branden de Kock (3). Penalties: De Kock (2).

NWU EAGLES 22 (6) WITS 20 (5)

Flyhalf Keagan Fortune kicked an 82nd-minute penalty goal to give the NWU Eagles a dramatic win at Loftus Versfeld.

It was Fortune’s fifth penalty in a match played in pouring rain for most of the first half. He punished the indiscipline of Wits, who outscored their opponents by three tries to one and took a 20-19 lead in the 79th minute.

Wits came into this match with confidence having thrashed the Madibaz on Tuesday, while NWU were looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing loss to Maties.

As the rain bucketed down at Loftus, Fortune kicked an early penalty for NWU before prop Keagan Glade went over for FNB Wits’ first try.

Wits were dealt a heavy blow after losing experienced lock Kevin du Randt, who was stretchered off the field, and Fortuin’s second penalty gave the Eagles a slender 6-5 lead at half time.

No 8 Travis Gordon showed great strength and skill to score Wits’ second try early in the second half, but Fortune’s boot reduced the deficit to one.

In the 57th minute, Wits flyhalf Kurt Webster was red-carded for a shoulder charge and NWU finally gained momentum through the maul, with replacement hooker Gustav du Rand scoring his seventh try of the tournament.

Their lead was short-lived, however, as Wits centre Yanga Hlalu sliced through the defence to score under the posts and fullback Christian Humphries’ first conversion of the evening put his side ahead 17-16.

Fortune and Humphries then exchanged penalties, but it was the Eagles No 10 who would have the final say.

Player That Rocks: Chuiner van Rooyen (NWU Eagles)

NWU Eagles – Try: Gustav du Rand. Conversion: Keagan Fortune. Penalty: Fortune (5).
Wits – Tries: Keagan Glade, Travis Gordon, Yanga Hlalu. Conversion: Christian Humphries. Penalty: Humphries.

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Dylan Jack