Tuks stun Maties to claim top spot

WRAP: With just one round remaining until the semifinals, the Varsity Cup 2025 season took another dramatic turn after UP-Tuks stunned Maties at Danie Craven Stadium on Monday to go top of the log.

UCT Ikeys geared closer to the play-off stages with an easy win over defending champs UFS Shimlas on the Green Mile while CUT escaped the relegation zone after defeating Wits who now face almost certain automatic relegation unless a miracle happens next week.

The Eagles kept their hopes of a semifinal spot alive after crushing UJ who now drop into 7th place.

The article continues below…

UCT Ikeys 40-26 UFS Shimlas

UCT Ikeys claimed a 14-point victory over UFS-Shimlas in their final home fixture ahead of the play-offs.

The men from Cape Town bounced back from last week’s derby defeat to Maties in convincing fashion on Monday.

Both teams bagged a bonus point for their try-scoring exploits with the hosts scoring five to the Shimlas’ four.

Ikeys winger Ntokozo Makhaza booted his side into the lead after just two minutes of play as the home side looked to set the tone for the rest of the game.

UCT’s cause was helped after a yellow card to Bradley Giddy a few moments later that allowed the hosts to make the most of their numerical advantage.

UCT ran in three tries before the half-time hooter sounded while the men from the Free State had two more players sent to the sin bin. The Ikeys boasted a 20-5 lead at the break.

The hosts extended their lead early in the second period as Asad Moos secured the bonus point try four minutes after the restart.

The Ikeys dominated the majority of the second half but took their foot off the gas, allowing the visitors to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over but the damage was already done.

The Shimlas went down swinging which earned them a bonus point for scoring four tries, but it was the men from Cape Town who ran out as convincing 40-26 winners.

Scorers:

For UCT Ikeys:
Tries: Blanckenberg, Koevort, Moos, Nyali, Penalty try does not require a conversion.
Cons: Makhaza 2
Pens: Makhaza 3

UFS Shimlas:
Tries:Bezuidenhout 2, Viljoen, Pitout
Cons: Pierre Giddy 3

Player that Rocks: Nel (Ikeys)

Teams:

UCT Ikeys: 15 Duran Koevort, 14 Lezane Davids, 13 Thomas Nel, 12 Rethabile Louw, 12 Ntokozo Makhaza, 10 Alex Vermeulen, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Aidan Norris, 7 Connor Jack Gordon, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Daino Botha, 4 Enos Ndiao, 3 Bryan le Roux, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo
Replacements: 16 Johan Lombard, 17 Matthew Beckett, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Keenan Mills, 20 Aden da Costa, 21 Josh Miller, 22 Qhawe Soji, 23 Isaiah Louw.

UFS Shimlas: 15 Wynand Botha, 14 Kirwin du Preez, 13 Nkoka Ngobe, 12 Alwich van der Linde, 11 Lilitha Lunqe, 10 Bradley Pierre Giddy, 9 Hlumelo Klaas, 8 Maynard Kleynhans, 7 Liam Shamburg, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Sandile Nzuza, 4 Renier Viljoen, 2 Juanre Breitenbach, Ntokozo Hlope
Replacements: 16 Jacobus Bezuidenhout, 17 Conley Pieterse, 18 Jujean Smit, 19 HJ de Beer, 20 Marno Stopforth, 21 Alastair-Cole Vermeulen, 22 Siviwe Zondani, 23 Kungawo Mehlomakulu

Referee: Jonathan Lottering

Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds

Maties 19-29 UP-Tuks

In a thrilling Varsity Cup showdown at Danie Craven Stadium, Tuks ended Maties’ unbeaten run with a 29-19 win.

Played in perfect conditions, the match saw Tuks overpower the hosts, scoring four tries to Maties’ two.

Tuks started with intensity, and their forwards applied heavy pressure.

Tighthead prop Bom Louw crossed for the first try after a driving maul.

Maties quickly responded through scrumhalf Mckyle Volmoer, whose break set up Joel Leotlela for a try. Volmoer had replaced the injured Ezekiel Ngobeni.

Maties attempted an innovative tactic close to the line, but Tuks won a turnover, with the half-time score reading 9-7 in Maties’ favour.

In the second half, Tuks came out strong. Loosehead prop Mj Nel powered over from a maul to take the lead.

Captain Dillon Smith guided his team with strong leadership, and flanker Abel Pretorius showed great determination to score Tuks’ third try.

Tuks’ hooker Ruan van Blommestein added a fourth try, leaving Maties on the back foot.

Maties fought back, with Jean-Marc Trichard breaking through for a try, but it wasn’t enough.

A final penalty from flyhalf JP Wentzel sealed the win for Tuks.

Flyhalf Jandre Burger was named Player that Rocks, excelling with his goal-kicking, playmaking, and defence, contributing significantly to Tuks’ victory and ending Maties’ unbeaten streak.

The Scorers:

For Maties:
Tries: Leotlela, Trichard
Cons: Van Heerden Smith 2
Pen: Van Heerden Smith

For UP-Tuks:
Tries: Louw, Van Blommestein, Pretorius, Nel
Cons: Burger 3
Pen: Burger

Player that Rocks: Jandre Burger (UP-Tuks)

Teams:

Maties: 15 Eldridge Jack, 14 Joel Leoltela, 13 Ryan Maunel, 12 Grant de Jager, 11 Dylan Miller, 10 Christiaan van Heerden Smith, 9 Mckyle Volmoer, 8 Ethan Snyman, 7 Luan Botha, 6 Armand Combrink, 5 Carel van der Merwe, 4 Zuko Poswa, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 CJ Erasmus, 1 Prince Mulea
Replacements: 16 Luthando Makula, 17 Janlu Basson, 18 Ammaar Burton, 19 Jason Johnson, 20 Micheal Chettoa, 21 Warrick Jones, 22 Samuel Badenhorst, 23 Jean-Marc Trichardt

UP-Tuks: 15 Ambesa Zenzile, 14 Munashe Dukuswa, 13 Tharquinn Manuel, 12 Kobus Janse van Rensburg, 11 Andile Myeni, 10 Jandre Burger, 9 Chad-Lee Valentine, 8 Dillon Smith, 7 Cayno February, 6 Abel Pretorius, 5 Lilitha Matsiliza, 4 Roald Hattingh, 3 Bom Louw, 2 Ruan van Blommestein, 1 MJ Nel
Replacements: 16 Edwin Till, 17 Barnard Nortje, 18 Jayd Austin, 19 Haydn Kemp, 20 Kamohelo Tlome, 21 Daimon O’Connell, 22 JP Wentzel, 23 Keane Galant.

Referee: Eon van Zyl

NWU Eagles 52-7 UJ

NWU Eagles returned to winning ways with a dominant 52-7 victory over UJ under heavy rain on Monday night at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground – with Chyle van Zyl bagging a hat-trick.

The Eagles struck early with a Tian van Zyl try, converted by MJ Mostert, who later added a penalty for a 12-0 lead.

The Eagles dominated the first half, extending their lead to 26-0 as Stephan Krugel finished off a well-worked team try, converted by MJ Mostert.

The Eagles dominated the second half, with van Zyl scoring twice from line-out driving mauls, both converted by MJ Mostert.

Guhan Du Bois added another try as the Eagles extended their lead to 45-0.

The home side continued their dominance with Stephen Taylor scoring another try from a lineout driving maul, converted by Stehan Heymans, making it 52-0.

UJ managed to get on the board with a try from Jarrad Jordan, converted by Oela Blaauw, bringing the final score to 52-7.

The Scorers:

For NWU Eagles:
Tries: T.Van Zyl, Krugel, C.van Zyl 3, Du Bois, Taylor.
Cons: Mostert 4, Heymans
Pen: Mostert

For UJ:
Try: Jarrad Jordan

Player that Rocks: Stephan Krugel (NWU Eagles)

Teams:

NWU Eagles: 15 Luan van der Walt, 14 Naiden Jaarts, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 12 Isrome Phatudi, 11 Joubert Schoeman, 10 MJ Mostert, 9 Sanele Zungu, 8 Sean Robertson, 7 Tian van Zyl, 6 Guhan du Bois, 5 Stephen Krugel, 4 Tsepo Tlaka, 3 Ntobeko Shezi, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Alethwa Buthelezi
Replacements: 16 Hanro Venter, 17 Jaco du Toit, 18 Bradley Stanfliet, 19 Stephen Taylor, 20 Schalk van Schalkwyk, 21 Zack Serfontein, 22 Stehan Heymans, 23 Indiphile Tyeda.

UJ: 15 Michail Damon, 14 Sifiso Dlamini, 13 Adriano Jackson, 12 John Ford, 11 Ughan Africa, 10 Alzeadon Felix, 9 Liam Rowan, 8 Dylan Viljoen, 7 Muzuva Gutu, 6 Siyemukela Ndlovu, 5 Kamo Molefe, 4 Jaden Baillie, 3 Ali Gqaza, 2 Ryan Marimo, 1 Damian Baker
Replacements: 16 Jarrad Jordaan, 17 Marnus Swarts, 18 Bian Janse van Rensburg, 19 Samuel Klinkert, 20 Reon Pretorius, 21 Berwyn Bosch, 22 Gregory van der Bank, 23 Olea Blaauw

Referee: Dylen November

CUT 34-28 WITS

The CUT Ixias broke their three-match losing streak in the Varsity Cup on Monday night with a crucial 34-28 bonus-point victory over Wits in Bloemfontein.

The win was vital in ensuring the Ixias avoid automatic relegation this season.

However, with one round still to play, anything can happen in a week of rugby and a relegation play-off still looms.

The Ixias opened the scoring in their must-win encounter when hooker Tokelo Ntaopane dotted down from a powerful line-out maul in their first entry into the 22-metre area.

This was the first of his three tries. Almost immediately, the visitors from Johannesburg struck back, with flanker Joshua van Vreden slicing through the CUT defence for a converted try.

Wits doubled their lead minutes later when live-wire No.8 Christopher Kachungunu crashed over after sustained pressure.

The Ixias had the final say in the first half, with both locks, Kevin Strydom and Asekho Marubelela, crossing the try line to edge into a 17-14 lead at the break.

In the second half, Ntaopane completed his brace before play was suspended for over an hour and a half due to lightning.

Replacement tighthead prop Sibusiso Shongwe scored his first of two tries to keep Wits in the fight when play resumed, but CUT responded, with Jan-Hendrik Bessenger dotting down before Ntaopane powered over for his hat-trick.

Shongwe had the final say in the game, completing his brace to reduce the deficit to just six points, but it wasn’t enough to save Wits from automatic relegation.

As things stand, the Ixias may avoid the relegation play-off, but their fate depends on UJ’s result against the UCT Ikeys next week, while they will want to upset the NWU Eagles at the Fanie du Toit stadium.

The Scorers:

For CUT:
Tries: Ntaopane 3, Strydom, Marubelela, Bessenger
Cons: Malan 2

For Wits:
Tries: Van Vreden, Kachungunu, Shongwe
Cons: Coetzee 2, Appoles 2

Player that Rocks: Tokelo Ntaopane (CUT)

Teams:

CUT: 15 Devinto Vergotine, 14 Clive Hartzenberg, 13 Liam Prinsloo, 12 Jean Swart, 11 Zachery Bester, 10 Matthys Cornelius Malan, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 8 Francois Bester, 7 Tsebano Stemer, 6 JT van der Walt, 5 Kevin Strydom, 4 Asekho Marubelela, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 2 Tokelo Ntaopane, 1 Jan Hendrik Bessenger
Replacements: 16 Leon Johan Franzsen, 17 Mamello Moshoaliba, 18 Malcolm Lamont, 19 Jean Louis Theron, 20 Luvuyo Selabalo, 21 Jeric Estree, 22 Jordan Davids, 23 Rorisang Masoeu

Wits: 15 Lindani Dweba, 14 Dustyn Holmes, 13 Keith Chirwa, 12 Setshaba Mokoena, 11 Kevon Chirwa, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Drew Bennet, 8 Christopher Kachungunu, 7 Thando Biyela, 6 Joshua van Vreden, 5 Hayden Munnery, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Dagan Meuwese, 1 Ricardo Brandao
Replacements: 16 Justin Amos, 17 Thomas Meintjes, 18 Waldo Muller, 19 Joshua Ferreira, 20 Luke Cannon, 21 Sabelo Shangase, 22 Tireque Apolles, 23 Ngia Selengbe

Referee: Hernus Coetzee
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys