Maties make it a double
Maties defended their Varsity Sevens title in Camps Bay by beating Kovsies in extra time of a thrilling Final on Sunday.
The Stellenbosch team lost just one match all weekend in Camps Bay, and they finished things in style as Kovsies fell just short.
Maties made a fast start with two quick tries from JW Durr to go 12-0 up. Kovsies put the kick-off out on the full and the ball was switched and then shifted wide to Durr who outstripped the defence to score in the corner before following that up shortly afterwards with another.
Kovsies hit back with a try of their own, but it was Maties who took a 12-7 advantage into half-time.
Maties were first to score in the second half when Josh Bassingthwaighte pounced on a loose ball and dived over after Durr had been brought down just short.
Kovsies responded with a try of their own from their own half to bring themselves within striking distance, and there was one more twist as the Bloemfontein side got over in the corner once more to level the scores and send the game into extra time.
It was sudden death with the title on the line and Maties moved into the Kovsies 22 where the referee sent two defenders to the sin bin with yellow cards for separate incidents.
Maties took advantage by barging over the line for the decisive try which sparked wild celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.
In the third place play-off UP-Tuks steamrolled their trans-Jukskei rivals UJ. The Pretoria side scored three first-half tries to hold a 17-7 lead at the break and they held on in the second half to prevail 24-14 at the end.
The Plate Final was just as exciting, with NWU-Pukke beating local favourites UWC to claim the silverware.
Pukke managed to score first, but UWC had the crowd on their side and they rallied well to take a 10-5 lead into the half-time break.
Elusive wing Quade Langeveldt got over in the right corner to open UWC's account, and after Pukke had a player sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, they were able to squeeze over on the other side to snatch the lead.
However, the match was turned on its head early in the second half when UWC were shown a yellow card of their own and Pukke took full advantage by scoring a powerplay try which gave them a win that they would not relinquish.
Earlier in the day, the Ikey Tigers managed to see off the challenge of the NMMU Madibaz in their play-off to claim seventh place and TUT registered just their second win of the weekend to overcome Limpopo in the Wooden Spoon match.
