Varsity College and Madibaz book their spots in the FNB Varsity Shield final

The finalists of FNB Varsity Shield 2025 has been decided, with FNB Varsity College set to face FNB Madibaz on Friday at 4pm at Varsity College Durban North. The Comets have already secured automatic promotion after topping the log at the end of the group stages and continued their fine form by outsclassing FNB CPUT in Durban. In Gqeberha, Madibaz booked their ticket to the final after dispatching FNB UWC with relative ease.

FNB Madibaz 41-24 FNB UWC

For two heart-breaking years Madibaz failed to make it past the semi-final stage of theVarsity Shield. That all changed in Gqeberha on Friday afternoon.

A slew of tries by the home side in the first half did enough damage to ensure that the visitors simply had too much to do in the second stanza.

The Capetonians drew first blood in the fifth minute when centre Braydon Booysen crashed over but from that point on the half belonged to Madibaz.

Kyle Erasmus added to his impressive Shield try tally after a powerful rolling maul, centre Eddie Kruger rounded off a superb bit of handling by the Madibaz backs before wing Emihle Zaza took advantage of poor handling by the visitors to stroll in for his five-pointer.

Three minutes before the break prop Imibongo Mvuleni got in on the action with a copybook front-rower’s charge over the line.

It looked like the floodgates would open when Madibaz skipper Leon van der Merwe caught the opposition napping with a quick tap-and-go to put his name on the scoresheet nine minutes into the second half.

However, with no option but to attack, UWC started to find some rhythm and were rewarded with three unanswered tries by Leighton Damon, skipper Romuald Nsombamanya and replacement hooker Tyanase Mihlali.

It was too little, too late though as Madibaz secured their place in the final that has for eluded them for so long.

FNB Varsity College 52-17 FNB CPUT

Varsity College delivered a statement performance in Durban North as they overwhelmed CPUT to book their place in the Varsity Shield final.

The Comets were first on the board in the 13th minute when Jacques Marais dotted down off a line-out driving maul, showcasing his trademark power. Drico Marx added the extras from the touchline to make it 7-0. Just two minutes later, a deliberate knockdown by Oyintando Honour Maseti saw the referee go to the TMO, who ruled a probable try. A penalty try was awarded and Varsity College doubled their lead.

The momentum didn’t stop there. In the 18th minute, Edward Siguake tore down the touchline before offloading to captain Mthembu, who finished the move with style. Marx slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 21-0. That scoreline remained unchanged at half-time, with the Comets firmly in control after three unanswered tries.

The second half began just as the first ended, with VC applying pressure. Former Northwood first team captain Enzo Van Niekerk added his name to the scoresheet in the 50th minute with a blistering run and Marx converted once more to make it 28-0.

CPUT finally found a response in the 58th minute through Gerald Ghambi, who powered over the line. However, the missed conversion from Maseti left them trailing 28-5. Varsity College quickly hit back, and in the 62nd minute, Marx capitalized on a forward-dominated attack to score. Although his conversion hit the upright, the Comets led 33-5.

Marais wasn’t done yet. In the 73rd minute, he secured his brace off another powerful driving maul. Marx added the extras as the scoreboard stretched to 40-5.

Though the game was slipping away, the Blue Wave continued to fight. Clyde Frieslaar produced a determined finish in the 75th minute, crashing over with two defenders on him. The successful conversion made it 40-12. Just minutes later, Iwaan Bloys added another for CPUT, blazing down the wing, although the conversion was missed.

Varsity College answered back in the 78th minute when fullback Chandler Green danced through defenders to score. Marx missed the conversion but it was 45-17 heading into added time.

In the final act of the match, No 8 Juan Steyl finished things off with a pick-and-go try and converted it himself to seal the emphatic victory.