Former Bok's Eagles secure Varsity Cup semi-final spot

VARSITY CUP WRAP: NWU beat CUT 35-32 at the Tuks B-Field on Tuesday to book their place in the Varsity Cup semi-finals, while Wits finished their campaign on a high.

The Eagles’ win in the rescheduled Round 7 clash sets up a semi-final meeting with table-topping UCT Ikeys at Tuks Stadium on Friday, with second-placed Maties taking on third-placed UP-Tuks in the first semi-final.

UJ 20 (8) WITS 22 (7)

Wits flyhalf Keagan Lailvaux kicked an 81st-minute drop goal to break UJ hearts in the Johannesburg derby.

Wits’ third win of the campaign saw them leapfrog UJ into eighth place on the Varsity Cup log.

UJ had only themselves to blame for the loss as their indiscipline resulted in four yellow cards – two in each half.

UJ flyhalf Jurich Claasens kicked an early penalty before scrumhalf Mpho Kubheka scored in the corner following a powerful driving maul to make it 8-0 after 20 minutes.

However, Kubheka became the first UJ player to be yellow-carded and two minutes later Wits scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula dived over for a try, which Lailvaux converted. Claasens was then sent to the sin bin on the stroke of half-time.

An immense defensive effort from Wits saw UJ twice held up over the tryline early in the second half, but the Orange Army finally cracked the defence when replacement prop Kayden Kiewit bullied his way over the tryline.

UJ replacement lock Philip Apea-Adu was yellow-carded in the 61st minute and Wits fullback Setshaba Mokoena got his name on the scoresheet shortly after.

No sooner had UJ been restored to 15 men than centre Indiphile Tyeda was sent to the sin bin and like clockwork Wits scored through Ndudula to take a 19-15 lead.

Wing Nkondlo Radebe got UJ back in front when he rounded off a good try, but they conceded a late penalty which allowed Wits to attack again and set Lailvaux up in the pocket for a drop goal. The flyhalf made no mistake to turn Johannesburg royal blue.

Player That Rocks: Hlumelo Ndudula (Wits)

The scorers:

For UJ:
Tries: Mpho Kubheka, Kayden Kiewit, Nkondlo Radebe.
Con: Jurich Claasens.
Pen: Claasens.

For Wits:
Tries: Hlumelo Ndudula 2, Setshaba Mokoena.

Cons: Keagan Lailvaux 2
Drop goal: Lailvaux

UJ: 15 Nqubeko Mkwanazi, 14 Nkondlo Radebe, 13 Tyreeq February, 12 Indiphile Tyeda, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Mpho Kubheka, 8 Franco Schutte, 7 Peter-John Steenkamp, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Brendon Pawson, 4 Lunga Ncube (captain), 3 Herman Agenbag, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Nkosikhona Masuku
Replacements: 16 Lehlohonolo Mphuthi, 17 Kayden Kiewit, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Tristan Dullisear, 21 Matthew van Huyssteen, 22 Boldwin Hansen, 23 Enrique Franks.

Wits: 15 Setshaba Mokoena, 14 Sthsaba Mqhatu, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 12 Siyabonga Xulu, 11 Matthew Mcdonald, 10 Keagan Lailvaux, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 7 Alexander Skudder, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 William Thomson, 4 Junior White, 3 Ebot Buma, 2 Dameon Venter (captain), 1 Banele Mthenjane
Replacements: 16 Mulalo Sadiki, 17 Jason Cloete, 18 Keagan Glade, 19 Kyle van Eyssen, 20 Golden Msipha, 21 Dylan Meyer, 22 Jared Fuller, 23 Lwazi Monakali.

CUT IXIAS 32 (15) NWU Eagles 35 (25)

NWU withstood a brave comeback from CUT to secure a place in the semi-finals.

The Ixias outscored their opponents by five tries to three, but flyhalf Charles Williams missed three conversions, while opposite number Niven Petersen made no mistake with three conversions and four penalty goals.

In what was effectively a ‘quarter-final’ showdown, it was the Ixias who started the match with fire in their bellies as they frustrated the Eagles.

Early penalty goals by Williams and Petersen were followed by a try to CUT lock Brendon Fortuin, who strode over with his vibrant red scrum cap only slightly less colourful than his celebration.

Ixias hooker Janus Venter’s 11th try of the campaign saw him break the record for most Varsity Cup tries in a season, but the Eagles then flipped the switch with lock Jeandré Leonard bagging a brace, which included a magnificent point-of-origin try.

Petersen knocked over both conversions and landed two penalties to push out the score to 25-15 at half-time.

Ixias inside centre Heino Bezuidenhout pulled back a try 10 minutes into the second half as they attempted to stage a comeback, but the Eagles put paid to their initial attempt when flank Ruben Dreyer scored a try, with Petersen kicking the conversion and adding a penalty.

The men from Bloemfontein continued unabated, though, as Venter earned his brace before replacement scrumhalf Xander Botha showed immense strength to spin, tuck and dive over the line despite the attention of several purple defenders.

Ultimately, it was not to be for the Ixias as the Eagles saw out the remaining time to book their spot in the semi-finals.

Player That Rocks: Jeandré Leonard (NWU Eagles)

The scorers:

FOr CUT Ixias:
Tries: Brendon Fortuin, Janus Venter 2, Heino Bezuidenhout, Xander Botha.
Cons: Charles Williams 2
Pen: Williams.

For NWU Eagles:
Tries: Jeandré Leonard (1×5, 1×7), Ruben Dreyer.
Cons: Nivan Petersen 3
Pens: Petersen 4

CUT Ixias: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout, 11 Emilio Adonis, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Luvuyo Ndevu (captain), 6 Francois Bester, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 3 Wandré Nortjé, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Thabiso Msiza, 17 Tebogo Masemola, 18 Raynard Esterhuizen, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Hardus Nel, 21 Xander Botha, 22 Ricoman Titus, 23 Jandré de Beer.

NWU Eagles: 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Sylvester Hassien, 13 Lincoln Daniels (captain), 12 Marco Donges, 11 Keano Windvogel, 10 Nivan Petersen, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Didintle Sekati, 7 Ruben Dreyer, 6 André Fouché, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Ruben du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Rehann Baumann, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 George van der Westhuizen, 20 Kagiso Woodbridge, 21 Caleb Louw, 22 Jandré de Beer, 23 Pienaar van Niekerk.