An all-action final round of the Varsity Cup saw Maties and NWU Eagles seal home semi-finals, while UJ avoided the promotion-relegation playoff.
Maties managed to hang on for a 26-20 victory over CUT in a cold and wet Bloemfontein, to secure a home semi-final against UFS Shimlas.
ALSO: Eagles stop Ikeys in Varsity Cup thriller
The tough conditions marred good attacking play throughout the night. Maties went into the half-time break 12-6 in the lead.
Second-half tries from substitute winger Christiaan Van Heerden-Smith and loose forward Louw Nel gave the Maroon Machine enough of a buffer to see out the win, despite conceding two late tries.
The other semi-final will see NWU Eagles host the UCT Ikey Tigers in Potchefstroom
Maties 26 (12) – Tries: Roland van der Heever, Eric Basson, Christiaan Van Heerden-Smith, Louw Nel. Conversions: Juan Mostert (3). CUT 20 (6) – Tries: Tiaan Drotskie, Asekho Marubelela. Conversions: Floris Brand. Penalties: Juan Smith.
UFS Shimlas claimed a vital 24-12 bonus point victory over Wits in Johannesburg to finish third on the log.
The visitors went into the half-time break 14-0. The much-needed bonus point try for Shimlas was scored by Gideon Nel. Wits got a consolation try in the last move of the game, with flanker Kelvin Kanenungo barging his way over.
UFS-Shimlas 24 (14) – Tries: Liyema Mgwigwi, Siviwe Zondani, Michael Annies, Gideon Nel. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (2).
Wits 12 (0) – Tries: Drew Bennet, Kelvin Kanenungo.
UJ ended their season on a high note outclassing UWC 59-8, escaping the relegation/promotion playoff match.
UWC’s sole try came from Zinzan Magerman while Aaron Swartz added a penalty.
UJ 59 (21) – Tries: Franco Schutte (2), Liam Rowan (2), Mauritz Swart (2), David Cary, Kamva Kalipa, Berwyn Bosch. Conversions: Kurtley Kiewiet (4), Berwyn Bosch.
UWC 8 (3) – Tries: Zinzan Magerman. Penalty: Aaron Swartz.
