Eagles, Shimlas reign supreme, Maties and Ikeys find form

ROUND FOUR WRAP: After a tough first half, defending champions NWU Eagles ran away for a thorough victory over Wits in round four of the 2024 Varsity Cup. UFS Shimlas continued their fine form beating UWC while Maties were victorious over UWC. UCT Ikeys had too much firepower for CUT.

All the Round Four action!

NWU EAGLES 51-22 WITS

NWU Eagles returned to winning ways beating Wits 51-22 in a masterclass performance at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground.

The Eagles started the game strong with a try from Chyle Van Zyl following long periods of possession. It was not long before they extended their lead through a brilliant dribble by Keano Windvogel who offloaded to Arnoldus Vlok who added the five-pointer. Another excellent team move saw Naiden Jaarts making it 23-0 to the home team who were flying high.

Witsies reduced the deficit with a try by Dewet Lottering after a lineout driving maul. The Eagles were quick to respond with a try by Marvelous Mashimbyi. The visitors added to tries through Setshaba Mokoena and Dewet-Grant Fourie from mauls. A penalty by Tireque Apolles made the scoreboard 30-22 in favour of the Eagles at half time.

The visitors were completely shut out in the second half while NWU piled on even more pressure through a second try by Van Zyl, with one apiece by Windvogel and Hennie du Randt.

SCORERS:

For NWU Eagles:
Tries: Chyle van Zyl 2, Marvelous Mashimbyi, Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, Naiden Jaarts, Keano Windvogel, Hennie du Randt.
Cons: Zinedine Robinson 6.

For Wits:
Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Dewet Lottering, Dewet-Grant Fourie.
Cons: Tireque Apolles 2.
Pens: Apolles.

Player That Rocks: Marvelous Mashimbyi (NWU Eagles)

Teams:

NWU Eagles: 15 Shaun-Christian Baxter, 14 Keano Ricardo Windvogel, 13Matthew Luke Fortuin, 12 Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, 11 Naiden Jaarts, 10 Zinedine Robinson, 9 Aphelele Emihle Madaka, 8 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 7 Tian Van Zyl, 6 Hennie du Randt, 5 Franco Marais, 4 Stephan Kruge, 3 Ntobeko Thabiso Shezi, 2 Chyle Van Zyl, 1 Matome Molebogeng Manyama

Wits: 15 Setshaba Mohlakoane Mokoena, 14 Dustyn Matthew Holmes, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 12 Caleb Lombard, 11 Lindani Dweba,10 Tireque Apolles, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 7 Dewet-Grant Fourie, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Hendrik Theunis Gouws, 3 Liam Alfred Whitehead, 2 Dewet Lottering, 1 Jason Cloete

UFS SHIMLAS 48-26 UWC

UFS Shimlas recorded a third-straight bonus point win after a hard-fought 38-26 win over the UWC in Bloemfontein, and they did this with 14 men in the park.

Three minutes into the match Shimla’s captain Pierre Uys received a yellow card for a grass-cutter tackle and this put pressure on his team. It was however handling errors and penalties early in the game that led to the Shimlas struggling to get going. UWC managed to capitalise on this through their inside centre, Bryan Brenda, who powered over for a converted try.

It took a full 20 minutes for the Shimla to find their rhythm and once they did, the scrumhalf, Makwande Dlamini flew over for a point-of-origin try, after an initial break by Zane Bester in their 22. Shortly before the break, Fracisco Dos Reis crashed over and then Siviwe Zondani scored straight from the restart for a second seven-pointer for a 25-7 lead at half-time.

The second stanza saw hooker Liyema Mgwigwi scoring while Michiel Genis and Nkoka Ngobe also added their names to the score sheet.

Uys received a second yellow that was upgraded to a red card for a high tackle, and this gave UWC a sniff, but the hosts managed to remain composed while being a man short.

UWC certainly didn’t go down without a fight and their valiant effort was rewarded with tries by Ruben Swanepoel, captain Romuan Nsombamanya and winger Will Vraagom.

SCORERS

UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Makwande Dlamini, Fracisco Dos Reis, Siviwe Zondani, Nkoka Ngobe, Michiel Genies, Liyema Mgwigwi.
Cons: Ethan Wentzel 5

UWC:
Tries: Bryan Breda, Will Vraagom, Romuan Nsombamanya, Ruben Swanepoel.
Cons: Conwill Conradie 3

Player That Rocks: Ethan Wentzel (UFS Shimlas)

UFS Shimlas: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Michiel Christiaan De Graaff Genis, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Gideon Jooste Nel, 11 Siviwe Zondani, 10 Ethan SJ Wentzel, 9 Makwande Nqobani Melusi Dlamini, 8 Siyambuka Sobe Nakhane Ningiza, 7 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 6 Henri van Heerden, 5 Katlego Khumo Lobakeng, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 Riaan Jacobus van der Merwe, 2 Liyema Mgwigwi, 1 Ntokozo Hlophe

UWC: 15 Jean Jacques van Schalkwyk, 14 Will Bradford Vraagom, 13 Denver-Junior Van Wyk, 12 Bryan John Breda, 11 Hlomla Ncana, 10 Aaron Benjamin Swartz, 9 Conwill Brooklyn Conradie, 8 Tyrone Farren Maritz, 7 Louan De Lange, 6 Romuad Nsombamanya, 5 Carel Van der Merwe, 4 Michail Kasfikis, 3 Keanuh Cameron Michaels, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Hlonela Qelile

MATIES 54-22 UJ

Maties overpowered UJ 54-22 in a thrilling encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Initially, it was closely contested with both sides producing exciting attacking rugby in the first half with the Orange Army enjoying a narrow 22-19 lead over the home side.

The Maroon Machine however comprehensively outscored the visitors from Johannesburg by seven tries to three.

Although Jonathan Mokoena’s side fought gamely for most of the match, they did not have enough firepower in the second half to build on the foundation they laid in the first 40 minutes.

UJ came out with an alternate strip after half-time, but this did not help much, with the home side inspired by their fanatical support on a hot and humid night in Stellenbosch

Maties struggled in the set scrums at first but after 28 minutes head coach Kabamba Floors decided to replace his whole front row. This brought stability to that aspect of their game.

Floors said afterward his side deserved the win, but they didn’t start well.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but as the game went on we minimized the mistakes. After the break, we started to string a few phases together and started playing. I told the guys at half-time we were not playing in the right areas of the field. We decided to play the territory game.”

SCORERS

Maties:
Tries: Louw Nel 2, Vernon Matongo 2, W van den Hever, DeWet Marais, Paschal Ekeji.
Cons: Juan Mostert 4, C van Heerden-Smith 2

UJ:
Tries: Prince Nkabinde, Likhaya Tengimfene, Mauritz Maritz.
Cons: Rowan Malgas 1
Pens: Rowan Malgas 1

Player That Rocks: De Wet Marais (Maties)

Maties: 15 Hofmeyr Gideon Retief, 14 Ryan Marcus Manuel, 13 Aydon Colin Topley, 12 Brendan John Venter, 11 Matthew Emile Van Schalkwyk, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Mckyle Volmoer, 8 DeWet Marais, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Eric Chris Basson, 5 Matthew Gray, 4 Matthys Jacobus Bernardus Kitshoff, 3 Moegammad Ammaar Burton, 2 Siyasanga Ngubelanga, 1 Prince Rotondwa Mulea

UJ: 15 Boldwin Hansen, 14 Meyer Kriel, 13 Sfiso Perseverance Dlamini, 12 Likhaya Tengimfene, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Rowan Malgas, 9 Kgothatso Sono, 8 Siyemukela Samukelo Ndlovu, 7 Philip Apea Adu, 6 Athi Galada, 5 Connor Van Buuren, 4 Marius Coetzee, 3 Roedolf Fouche Schoeman, 2 Mauritz Swart, 1 Heiko Peter Eugene Pohlmann

UCT IKEYS 44 -7 CUT

UCT Ikeys have made it three out of three at home after cruising past CUT Ixias 44-7 at the Green Mile.

The Tigers scored four first-half tries as they bossed around the vulnerable Ixias side who looked powerless in the first stanza.

Wing Notokozo Makhaza broke the deadlock as he scored a point-of-origin try following an error by the visitors who lost a crucial ball in their 22. He made no mistake with the conversion taking the score to 9-0.

Lock Enos Ndiao forced through the CUT defence to dive over for UCT’s second try. Scrumhalf Riaan Genis did not want to be left out and after a successful lineout, driven by eight-man Reynhardt Crous, Genis scored his try. Makhaza’s conversion took the score to 23-0.

A crosskick from Tigers flyhalf Alexander Vermeulen found hooker Keagan Blanckenberg standing in the wing position and he powered his way over the tryline. Makhaza slotted his fourth successful conversion taking the score to 30-0 at half-time.

Xola Nyali scored UCT’s fifth try 10 minutes into the second half. It didn’t take long for Makhaza to add a second try to his name taking the score to 44-0 after 56 minutes.

CUT utility back Juan Arnold Smith scored the only try for the visitors from a good line-out ball. Flyhalf Natanael Young netted the conversion, but it was too little, too late.

SCORERS

UCT:
Tries: Ntokoza Makhaza 2, Enos Ndiao, Riaan Genis, Keagan Blanckenberg, Xola Nyali.
Cons: Ntokozo Makhaza 6

CUT:
Tries: Juan Arnold Smith.
Cons: Natanael Young.

Player That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT)

UCT Ikeys: 15 Duran Ryan Koevort, 14 Lezane George Davis, 13 Thomas Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ntokozo Sibusiso Makhaza, 10 Alexander Vermeulen, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Reynhardt Crous, 7 Laro Delport, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Johan van Rhyn, 4 Enos Ndiao, 3 John Kelly Ifechukwu Okonkwo, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Mhleli Khethuxolo Khuzwayo

CUT: 15 Devanito Lushan Vergotine, 14 Adielson Gouveia, 13 Liam Prinsloo, 12 Septimus Dercksen, 11 Tsepo Siphosethu Malumane, 10 Natanael Young, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 8 Jacobus Johannes Cloete, 7 Tjaart Jurie Van der Walt, 6 Tsebano Edward Stemer, 5 Jonathan Olivier, 4 Asekho Phindile Marubelela, 3 Leon Johan Franzsen, 2 Albertus Human Venter, 1 Jan-Hendrik Bessenger