Impi Ladies fight back as Tuks stun champions in FNB Varsity Cup Women Round 2

The Impi Ladies staged a brilliant comeback to secure their second win of the season against FNB UFH Women at Howard College Stadium in Round 2 of the FNB Varsity Cup Women. FNB UWC also impressed, delivering a strong second-half performance to claim a convincing 26-7 victory over FNB UJ. Meanwhile, FNB UP-Tuks stunned the defending champions in a thrilling five-try encounter at Tuks Stadium.

FNB UKZN Women 26-14 FNB UFH Women

A second half dramatic comeback by the Impi Ladies helped the KZN team to claim a bonus point win with the results reading 26-14 to the home team.

Both the FNB UFH Women and FNB UKZN Women started the match with dominance, combining well and testing each other’s strengths early on the game. However, nothing fruitful came after 15 minutes of play.

After a massive tug of war between the two teams, it was the visiting team FNB UFH that drew first blood as Masie Mathangane found some space through the Impi backline and scoring the first try of the game. Inga Qogi made no mistake on the conversion to claim all seven points for the Blues.

Just before the half-time whistle, the Blues captain Lilitha Vakalisa went over the try line after consistent pressure by the away team. Qogi made no mistake on the conversion to take the score at the break to 14-0 to FNB UFH.

It was in the second half where the story of the match was rewritten as FNB UKZN looked the more promising team right from the first minute of the half.

Just five minutes into the second half, Impi inside centre, Asanda Mnyandu, sold a beautiful dummy pass which tore the Blues defense apart, leading to FNB UKZN’s first try of the day. Star fullback Siphesihle Fihlela struck the right post in a failed conversion.

About 10 minutes later, IMPI piled in the pressure even more until their hooker Nondu Yengwa dotted down from a driving maul. A try topped up by a Fihlela conversion to take the score to 14-12.

As the pressure continued to buildup, the hosts tried different means to get ahead of visitors FNB UFH as the Impi tried to turnover a penalty kick from about 35 meters away through their star player Fihlela, however the effort failed as the kick lost power less than five meters away from the poles.

Ten minutes before the match ended, IMPI began playing a beautiful brand of rugby, as the ball exchanged hands in quick succession leading to the third try by the home team Dimpho Mogashoa going over the try line in style. Fihlela adding the conversion kick.

The last nail was put in by Asanda Mnyandu who bagged her brace of tries in the final minute of the game for the fourth and bonus try for FNB UKZN. Fihlela converted well as her kick became the last action of the match. FNB UKZN completing a successful turnaround in the second half.

FNB UWC Women 26-7 FNB UJ Women

FNB UWC secured a convincing victory over FNB UJ after a strong second-half performance in their Varsity Cup Women clash.

The Caracals took an early lead in the early minutes of the game when scrumhalf Fatouma Yalcoue crossed the whitewash to score the opening try. Marli George added the conversion to give the home side a headstart following a well-worked point-of-origin move.

The Orange Army responded just before the break when Alutha Ngcezula crossed the whitewash for the visitors and Siham Chtioui slotted the conversion to cut the deficit just before half-time.

FNB UWC came out with renewed intensity in the second half and began to take control of the match. Fullback Nandile Mvandaba extended the lead with a try out wide, although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, pushing the score further from the visitors.

Momentum firmly shifted in the operation room in the favour of the hosts as they continued to apply pressure. Asiphe Mayaba crossed the line in the and the successful conversion stretched the lead.

The home side put the result beyond doubt late in the game when Ronecia Gordan added another try in the closing stages. The conversion attempt ran out of time, but the Caracals had already done enough to seal the match.

At full-time, FNB UWC emerged cpmfortable winners over FNB UJ, capping off a dominant second-half display after a closely contested opening 40 minutes.

FNB UP-Tuks Women 29-26 FNB Maties Women

FNB UP-Tuks Women stunned the defending champions in a thrilling encounter to hand FNB Maties Women their second defeat of the season.

The 2025 runners-up FNB UP-Tuks Women locked horns with defending champions FNB Maties Women in a repeat of last season’s final showpiece. The Stripe looking for their second win of the season while Maties hungry to taste victory.

The opening half showed intensity as anticipated with both sides throwing everything they have at each other. In a tightly contested match, the clash was no short of tries. The visitors were the first to put numbers on the board. Catherine Coetzee powered over the line for the first try of the afternoon before Kwanga Majebe cancelling out her try to hand the home side a tight lead inside the first 20 minutes.

Maties found their rhythm early as they went to score their second try courtesy of Sesethu Dumke. Tuks proved lethal in attack as Lidene Kruger level matters flying over the line wide following a brilliant solo run.

It was 12 all at the interval in the closely contested clash. Hungry for their maiden victory in 2026, Maties took the immediately after the break. From there it was Tuks party as they proved stronger.

Maroon Machine’s Ankia Viljoen flew over the line and converted her own try to give the visitors the lead again. The Stripe Generation however did not hold back as they responded swiftly through Thandi Mokatse from another powerful forwards play. Back-to-back tries for the home side as they extended their lead with Kruger completing her brace.

Substitute Georgia-lee Lewis stretched the margin further with a cheeky play, selling a dummy in front of the five-meter line. Maties responded late in the dying minutes with Dumke’s brace however it was not enough as the Stellenbosch side still winless this season. Tuks sealing a tight triumph over the defending champs.