Maties held on to record their fourth win of the 2023 Varsity Cup against defending champions Tuks at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday night.
In a rematch of last year’s final, Maties got their revenge after streaking into a 31-7 lead at the break and then holding on to survive a ferocious Tuks fightback to clinch a 46-34 bonus-point win. The result consigned Tuks to a fifth successive loss in 2023.
The hosts were quick out the gate as inside centre Waqar Solaan went over in the fifth minute, flyhalf Jurie Matthee converting and then adding a penalty soon after.
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Tuks hit back through hooker Boikgantsho Moeketsi who recorded his third try of the tournament when he surged his across the line.
But Maties showed good composure and it paid off when Solaan’s centre partner Grant De Jager intercepted a forced pass on the halfway line to reverse the field and dot down under the uprights. Matthee kicked his second penalty to make it 22-7 at the end of the first quarter.
It then went from bad to worse for Tuks with five minutes remaining in the first half as the Maties backs tore through the line, setting up winger Matthew Van Schalkwyk to go over for a point of origin try.
Hands?! Another team try of the season contender?
The DC erupts as the maroon machine run it from inside their own half and Matthew van Schalkwyk does the honours for @MatiesSport!#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/zXiOFxdJef
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) March 20, 2023
And the home team struck first after the break through replacement winger Jacques Rousseau with a beautiful finish in the corner from a kick chase.
The pinpoint kick, the perfect bounce and the sensational inside outside from Jacques Rousseau for the @MatiesSport try!#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/py2G6tAU0X
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) March 20, 2023
But the tide turned dramatically and it was all Tuks in the final quarter as they scored three unanswered tries. Zander Reynders, Zander Kruger and Walter Wisser struck in quick succession from Maties’ backline errors and demonstrated their pace with classy finishes.
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However, Matthee steadied the ship with yet another penalty before lock Simon Miller put the contest out of reach for Tuks with a well taken try.
Tuks grabbed a consolation try on the hooter through replacement winger Bayanda Ngubane, wrapping up a truly frantic encounter.
Photo: Twitter/@MatiesSport