Maties break Ikey hearts in Cape derby

The much-anticipated Cape derby went down to the wire in Stellenbosch and it was log leaders FNB Maties who grabbed a try at the death to beat historical rivals FNB UCT in a thrilling FNB Varsity Cup clash. FNB UP-Tuks beat the FNB NWU Eagles to remain in contention for the play-offs while FNB UJ painted the city orange after upping the pressure in the second half against the Witsies to be crowned kings of Jozi. A rain soaked Bloem derby saw defending champs FNB UFS Shimlas dig deep and beat the Ixias in a low scoring affair.

FNB Wits 24-32 FNB UJ

Johannesburg was painted orange on Monday evening when UJ claimed an important win over Wits at the Wits Rugby Stadium.

It was a crucial game for both teams, who were yet to secure a victory in this season’s campaign.

The match was intense from the start, with Wits drawing first blood through lock Thomas Beling inside the first three minutes, though the conversion attempt went astray. With the score at 5-0, the Orange Army had it all to do and John Ford answered the call, breaking through from close range to level the score. Michail Damon converted his attempt to give his side a 7-5 lead. The next scoring action saw Wits speedster Kevon Chirwa racing down the touchline to score a try, which some in the crowd thought was controversial. However, it stood, with the conversion attempt going wide again, leaving Wits with a slender 10-7 lead at the break.

The second half saw a dominant display from UJ, who came out firing. Too many errors from the home side let them down in crucial parts of the game. The visitors were able to run in four tries to the hosts’ two.

Wits once again struggled to withstand mauls close to their try-line, with UJ scoring two tries courtesy of Kamo Molefe. In the end, UJ claimed the city’s bragging rights and possibly a position in next season’s Varsity Cup. It’s back to the drawing board for the Witsies, who will need to perform well in their remaining fixtures to avoid possible relegation.

FNB UP-Tuks 26-17 FNB NWU Eagles

UP-Tuks welcomed NWU Eagles at the Tuks Stadium in an emphatic and mouthwatering encounter - as anticipated, the clash proved to be unpredictable.

NWU Eagles look strong on attack as they cornered Tuks in the early stages of the game dominating the first 10 minutes. With the relentless attack from the men from North West, Tuks were then reduced to 14-men Kobus Janse van Rensburg sent to the sin bin. With their backs against the wall, the Stripe Generation broke the deadlock in impressive transition rugby.

The Pretoria outfit got a lineup in the middle of the park, relied on their strength and agility driving NWU Eagles to their try-line. Stretched play from one end to another and finally got the break as Andile Myeni cuts in to open the scoring. JP Wentzel clinical with the boot secured maximum points.

Wentzel added three more points on the board with a well-executed kick. The visitors finally registered points on the on the stroke of half-time. Tuks taking a 7-point lead at the break.

The closely contested affair returned with the same energy as the Eagles returned with a try through Indiphile Tyeda to level the matters. Tuks cemented their dominance as Lilitha Matsiliza powered over the line to regain the lead. Wentzel missed a penalty with an opportunity to extend the lead.

Eagles showed no signs of giving up with Tian van Zyl reduced the deficit to just two points at 19-17. Dewey Swartbooi’s troops proved to be too strong upfront as they registered another try from sensational forward play, Ruan van Blommestein dotting it down as Tuks held on for victory.

FNB UFS Shimlas 16-9 FNB CUT

The UFS Shimlas returned to winning ways in the Varsity Cup on Monday with a hard-fought victory over the CUT Ixias in the Bloemfontein derby.

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest of wins for the defending champions but at this stage of the competition, every point is worth its weight in gold.

The eagerly anticipated derby was delayed by nearly an hour due to lightning in the vicinity of Shimla Park but the welcome rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the supporters, who turned out in their numbers.

Despite the wet conditions, both teams opted for an attacking approach from the outset, resulting in plenty of turnover ball. The Shimlas, in particular, left several points on the park, squandering scoring opportunities from set-pieces near the Ixias tryline.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute when Shimlas flyhalf Bradley Giddy slotted a long-range penalty, despite the slippery underfoot conditions. However, he had two further attempts at goal, both unsuccessful, leaving the score at 3-0 at half-time.

The rain eased in the second half, improving the playing conditions slightly but errors remained a factor. Ixias opened their account through a Matthys Malan penalty to level matters but Shimlas responded with a sensational try from Kirwin du Preez - the only one of the match.

Giddy kept Shimlas ahead with two more penalties, while Malan slotted two late three-pointers in pursuit of a bonus point for Ixias. Ultimately, the Shimlas did enough to claim the bragging rights and secure four valuable points.

FNB Maties 31-24 FNB UCT Ikeys

The Maties kept their flawless record intact with an exhilarating victory over a determined Ikey Tigers side in a gripping fourth-round Varsity Cup showdown at the electric Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

The highly-anticipated Western Cape derby between the Maties and the Ikeys was everything fans hoped for - and more! This was no ordinary rugby match. It was a fierce, high-octane battle between two bitter rivals, each side giving their all in a clash of rugby titans.

The game unfolded like a heavyweight boxing match, with both teams relentlessly going toe-to-toe, refusing to back down. From the first whistle, it was clear: this was going to be a nail-biting contest of epic proportions.

Coach Kabamba Floors’ Maties and Ikeys head honcho Robbie Fleck’s squads were evenly matched across the board. The Tigers led 24-17 at half-time and it looked like the visitors might just pull off a shock upset.

But then, enter Ezekiel Ngobeni, the Maties captain, who was simply unstoppable. The star player scored a brilliant hat-trick of tries to level the score at 24-all. Just when it seemed like he was about to take the game by the scruff of the neck with a fourth try, disaster struck - Ngobeni was forced to leave the field after picking up an injury.

With the match hanging in the balance and time running out, the Maties found another gear, sending their home crowd into a frenzy. Big winger Grant de Jager exploded through the Ikey defense, powering over the line for the match-winning try. The conversion followed and the Danie Craven Stadium erupted.

Aggressive lock Carel van der Merwe was a standout throughout the game, working tirelessly in the tight and loose exchanges. His bulldozing try was a fitting testament to his relentless energy and he was deservedly named the Player that Rocks.

This victory will surely go down as one of the most exciting derbies in recent memory.