Defending 2024 Varsity Cup champions Shimlas bounced back from last week’s opening round defeat with a big home win against Wits, while Maties came from behind to edge the Eagles in Potchefstroom.

Shimlas secured their first win of the Varsity Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding 59-29 victory over Wits at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein. The first half saw the hosts put in a destructive display, scoring four point-of-origin tries and a regular five-pointer to take a 43-14 lead into the break.

Uncontested scrums were introduced in the 48th minute after Wits suffered an injury in the front row, removing a key weapon for Shimlas from the contest. Wits responded in the second half, scoring three late tries to secure a bonus-point and leave Bloemfontein with a more respectable 59-29 defeat.

Shimlas flanker Ramon Uys was named the Player that Rocks.

Shimlas: 59 (43)
Tries: Liam Shamburg, Ntokozo Hlope, Regan Izaks, Reinier Viljoen, Stiaan Genis (all point-of-origin tries), Alwich van der Linde, Ramon Uys.

Wits: 29 (14)
Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Drew Bennet, Ngia Selengbe, Lindani Dweba 2.

Tuks continued their unbeaten start to the 2025 Varsity Cup campaign with a 37-29 win against UJ. Tuks stormed out the blocks in the first half, with skipper Dillon Smith dotting down in the first two minutes. UJ showed no signs of giving up, twice coming back before Roald Hattingh returned from the sin bin to score a late try and secure the points for the hosts.

Tuks: 37 (14)
Tries: Dillon Smith, Oelof de Meyer, Kamohelo Tlome, Josh Du Toit and Roald Hatting.

UJ: 29 (8)
Tries: Asemhle Mafenyana, Alzeadon Felix (point-of-origin), Ughan Africa.

The Ixias solid defence and clinical breakdown play helped them hold off the early charge from the Ikeys in a narrow 23-19 victory in Bloemfontein. Ikeys fullback Duran Koevort broke the deadlock before Ixias captain Francois Bester drew the hosts level. The match was marred by errors, as CUT’s outside centre, Zachery Bester, was shown a red card for a poorly timed tackle. The home side held their nerve to contain a late push from the Ikeys and secure the win, despite playing one man down.

CUT 23 (14)
Tries: Devinto Vergotine, Adielson Gouveia, Sisipho Nofuya.

UCT Ikeys 19 (7)
Tries: Duran Koevort, Kian Davis, Ntokozo Makhaza.

Maties followed their round 1 upset of defending champions Shimlas with a narrow 29-27 win against the NWU Eagles at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground in Potchefstroom. Grant de Jager’s early try for Maties was cancelled out by Isrome Phatudi, before Naiden Jaarts capitalised off an innovative scrum move to make it 14-10 to the hosts. Maties showed character, with tries from Ryan Manuel and Fortune Mpofu giving the visitors a 22-20 half-time lead. Flyhalf Stehan Heymans missed the chance to win the game for the Eagles, his last-minute penalty sailing wide of the mark.

NWU Eagles: 27 (20)
Tries: Isrome Phatudi, Naiden Jaarts, Duvan du Toit.

Maties: 29 (22)
Tries: Grant de Jager, Ryan Manuel, Fortune Mpofu, Ezekiel Ngobeni.