Stellenbosch still top; UCT slip down
The Maties retained their unbeaten status in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International when they edged a resilient UCT 23-17 in a classic encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night.
The home side, playing in front of a packed Danie Craven Stadium, raced into an early lead – only to see their Western Cape rivals produce a strong second half, with the Men in Maroon forced to hang on in the end for the victory.
The result left the Maties with an eight-point lead at the top of the standings – well clear of FNB Puk, who sent a strong message to the other contenders as they turned their season around with a convincing 51-17 win over the visiting FNB TUT Vikings in Potchefstroom.
The bonus-point win saw the Potchefstroom students cement their place in the top four on the standings.
The star of the occasion in Potchefstroom was new lock Francois Robbertse, who replaced captain Dirco Rautenbach in the starting line-up and scoring a hat-trick of tries in an impressive display.
Whilst the Maties cannot be overtaken in first place, there is plenty to play for in next week’s final round of league action.
Pukke will host Maties at the Fanie du Toit Stadium next week, knowing defeat will open the front door for the third-placed UCT – just one point behind the Potch boys – to claim home ground advantage in the semifinals for the third successive year.
UCT host a Tuks team at the infamous Green Mile next Monday – in another must-win game in the final week of what has been a very exciting round robin phase of this tournament.
Even more important will be the encounter between FNB Shimlas and FNB UJ at Shimla Park, Bloemfontein, with the two teams playing for the final spot in the top four.
The team from Johannesburg and their Bloemfontein rivals are both on 18 points – two behind UCT – meaning the only way the loser will sneak past the Ikey Tigers is if the latter loses by about 50 points and they themselves score two bonus points. Possible, but highly unlikely, making the Bloem encounter a do-or-die affair.
The result between UJ and NMMU was probably never in doubt, but the margin was the burning question. In the end, UJ produced a record 97-14 victory over the hapless NMMU outfit in Johannesburg.
Apart from the records they shattered, the UJ boys kept alive their play-off hopes – knowing they travel to Bloem with their fate in their own hands.
For the record: The 83-point winning margin is the biggest ever, beating the 62-point margin Maties achieved against TUT earlier this year; the 97 points is also the most by one team – beating the 78 Shimlas scored against TUT last year. The 14 tries by UJ is also a record.
For FNB UJ, hooker Edgar Marutlulle scored a first-half hat-trick – while wing Lola Waka, fullback Aubrey McDonald and replacement flyhalf André Smith all scored two tries. Smith added seven conversions for a personal haul of 24 points, having come on for Ryno Luus at half-time.
Tuks paid dearly for mistakes against Shimlas, who were the better-rounded team at LC de Villiers Stadium; winning 27-23 in the end.
The defeat put an end to Tukkies’ semifinal hopes, while Shimlas and UJ will now fight it out in Round Seven for that elusive fourth play-offs spot – unless the unthinkable happens and Tuks hammer UCT in Cape Town.
* The Afrikaans version of this wrap can be found HERE.
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