Maties ran out victors over Wits and UCT Ikeys beat UJ as rainy conditions hit the third round of the Varsity Cup, while CUT handed UWC their third straight defeat.
Maties won a tight affair against Wits 23-12 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
When the half-time hooter sounded, it was Maties leading 8-5 in a low-scoring game, thanks to a penalty from flyhalf Juan Mostert and try from wing Siya Ngubelanga.
The Maroon Machine started the second half on fire when a brilliant individual display by Juan Mostert inside at the 22m line led to Maties’ second try. The mauling magic of Maties continued when DeWet Marais rounded off a well-executed move to stretch the score to 20-5.
With just over ten minutes to go and as the rain started to pour down again, Witsies got one back when Marno Grobbelaar scored their second try.
Maties 23 (8 ) – Tries: Siya Ngubelanga, Juan Mostert. DeWet Marais. Conversions: Mostert. Penalties: Mostert (2)
Wits 12 (5) – Tries: Mark Snyman, Marno Grobbelaar.
It was a good night in difficult conditions for UCT Ikeys when they picked up their second win of the season following a 32-21 victory over UJ at the Green Mile in Cape Town.
It was a gutsy performance by the Orange Army as they continued to apply pressure that forced errors by the Ikeys. As a result, left-wing Prince Nkabinde stormed through the UCT backline and swung a pass to his captain Siyemukela Ndlovu who went over for a try. Rowan Malgas added extras taking his side to 7-0 after 14 minutes.
The Tigers retaliated with a try courtesy of scrumhalf Riaan Genis, after the hosts got a lineout. Ntokozo Makhaza earlier slotted a penalty. Tries by tighthead prop John Okonkwo, centre Jonathan Roche and another successful conversion by Makhaza had Ikeys leading 24-7 at half-time.
UCT Ikeys 32 (24) – Tries: Riaan Genis, John Okonkwo, Jonathan Roche, Ntokozo Makhaza. Conversions: Ntokozo Makhaza (4). Penalties: Makhaza (2).
UJ 21 (7) – Tries: Siyemukela Ndlovu, Prince Nkabinde (2), Sfiso Dlamini. Conversions: Rowan Malgas (2)
CUT prevailed 38-21 against hosts UWC in a wet, rain-soaked and error-ridden encounter at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town. The half-time score was 33-7.
As would be expected when torrents of rain bucket down on a rugby field, there were plenty of errors. But that didn’t prevent the Ixias from scoring two tries (Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith) within 15 minutes and racing to a 14-point lead.
The period following the first-half strategy break was a disciplinary nightmare for UWC with three yellow cards and a red card in quick succession.
The visitors added three more tries before the halftime siren with Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, and Asekho Marubelela all getting their name added to the try-scoring sheet.
Despite a valiant effort and two late second-half tries from UWC, they left it too late. This was Paul Treu’s third consecutive loss in their return to the Varsity Cup fold.
CUT 38 (33) – Tries: Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith, Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, Asekho Marubelela, Raydon Swartbooi. Conversions: Smith (3). Photo: Luigi Bennett / Varsity Cup