Disappointment for Maties
Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, suffered a last-gasp 24-25 WP Super League loss to Hamilton’s in Stellenbosch on Saturday – a result that could see them miss out on taking part in the 2009 National Club Championships.
Maties scored three tries in a high-quality fixture between the two top teams in the league, but the visitors kept playing until the very last act of the game when a try by Terry Jacobs – followed by the conversion – sealed a crucial one-point win for the Men from Green Point.
‘Hammies’ have now opened a gap over the third-placed Maties on the WP Super League log (see standings below) and with just two games left in the first round of fixtures, they are favoured to reach the Club champs ahead of the 2008 and 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International champions.
However, Hamilton’s next fixture is against UCT who drew 16-16 with Maties in an Intervarsity game at Newlands a fortnight ago and Stellenbosch – for once – will be rooting for their Varsity Cup foes to do them a favour for once.
Maties’ scorers:
Tries: Jaco Nepgen, Louw Schabort, Lourens Adriaanse
Cons: Henoe Stoffberg 2
Pens: Stoffberg 2
The Maties team: 15 Andries Volgraaff, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Pieter Stoffberg, 12 Jean Stemmet, 11 Louw Schabort, 10 Adnaan Osman, 9 Henoe Stoffberg, 8 Bennie Booysen, 7 Morné Hanekom, 6 Wesley Wilkins, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Bertho van der Westhuizen (captain), 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Arno White, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Gerrit Jacobs, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Cameron Peverett, 20 Jonathan Adendorf, 21 Donald Stevens, 22 Jonathan Francke.
WP Super League log (as at May 25):
(Under played, won, points)
1. Hamilton’s 7, 7, 31
2. Victorians 8, 5, 27
3. Stellenbosch 7, 5, 26
4. UCT 6, 4, 22
5. ‘Durbell’ 6, 4, 19
6. SK Walmers 7, 2, 13
7. NNK 6, 2, 11
8. Villager 7, 2, 10
9. Helderberg 6, 1, 5
10. Kraaifontein 6, 0, 1
