Huge victory for Madibaz over CPUT
VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: The Varsity Shield match between Madibaz and CPUT at the Madibaz Stadion will go down as one of the most classic encounters in the history of the competition.
In the end, it was the visitors who turned a 19-point deficit at halftime into a 35-32 victory over the home team.
When Madibaz got off to a near-perfect start against CPUT thanks to three unanswered tries in the first 20 minutes, it looked as though it might be a long afternoon for their visitors from the Cape. Umna Tokwe, Leon van der Merwe and Endinako Kuse all crossed the whitewash to the delight of the home fans.
But CPUT, neck and neck on the log with Madibaz before this game, showed why they are an outfit to be reckoned with in the competition and through a slick backline move put Caine Stadler in for their first try.
It proved to be just what CPUT needed as they were a changed unit in the second half. Front-rower Soyama Ngceke was particularly strong and got just a reward with his two tries.
Madibaz refused to take it lying down though and brought the match back on a knife edge thanks to a try by replacement Kyle Erasmus. Towards the end, it was anyone’s game for the taking, but Keenan Williams’ late try for CPUT put the result beyond doubt in an absolute humdinger.
After last week’s drubbing by UWC at home in Pretoria, TUT scored an impressive 50-10 away win over UKZN in Durban.
The visitors didn’t waste any time to get on the scoreboard as fullback Jamie Felix finished off a beautiful move for the first of his two tries. The home team responded immediately through Juan-Daniels McArthur with Jarred Nicholls converting. Nichols also added a penalty.
Tries by Olwethu Pence and Jandre Van Zyl, and Felix’s second, stretched TUT’s lead at halftime to 26-10.
Having identified UKZN’s weakness in physicality and line-out distributions, TUT were on fire in the second 40 minutes with Van Zyl dotting down two more times and Joseph Kaunda and Sandile Robinson also getting their names on the scoresheet.
An inconsistent conversion rate didn’t matter much for the visitors as they completed a successful demolition of UKZN.
Three tries in the opening 20 minutes ensured a solid 47-12 for UWC over WSU at UWC Sports Stadium.
The men from Bellville raced to a substantial 28-0 lead at halftime courtesy of four tries by Will Vraagom, Riaan van der Merwe, Zhaun-Jacques Brynard, and Elkan Willemse. Conwill Conradie was successful with all the conversions.
UWC was running rampant with players like Conradie, Willemse, and flank forward Romuald Nsombamanya gaining quality ball for the home side. The team from East London had very little possession in the opening 40 minutes.
It was much of the same in the first quarter of the second half, with UWC exploiting the gaps in the WSU defensive lines.
Simthembile Zozi and Lisolethu Valisi got the only points for WSU minutes before the second strategy break. Valisi succeeded with one of his conversions.
With the victory, UWC has consolidated their position at the top of the log while WSU remains winless after four games.
UFH got the defence of their Varsity Shield title back on track with an emphatic 45-0 victory over Rhodes at the Davidson Stadium. The result will no doubt boost the confidence of the Blues to make the playoffs and contest for a second successive crown.
Even though they dominated most facets of the play, it was slow going in the first half for the home team. A penalty from Merlin du Plessis opened the scoring before a try by Kamvelihle Gcweka, converted by Du Plessis, took the score to 10-0 at halftime.
UFH threw down the gauntlet in the second half with Rhodes playing catchup. Jodwana Lathi-Tha Jodwana’s yellow card didn’t help and the Blues took full advantage. It started raining tries for the defending champions with Ayabulela Xhosana, Du Plessis, Salisiwe Gxekwa (2) and Khonaye Mbakaza crossing the line. Du Plessis was successful with all the conversions and was deservedly named the Player That Rocks.
The results and scorers:
CPUT 35-32 MADIBAZ
For Madibaz:
Tries: Tokwe,Van der Merwe, Kuse, Myburgh, Erasmus.
Cons: November 2.
Pens: November 1
For CPUT:
Tries: Stadler, Ngceke 2, Van der Heever, Williams.
Cons: Maseti 4, George 1.
Player That Rocks: Kehan Myburg (Madibaz)
UWC 47-12 WSU
For UWC:
Tries: Vraagom, Van der Merwe, Brynard, Willemse, Swart, Moerat, Stephens
Cons: Conradie 6.
For WSU:
Tries: Zozi, Valisi.
Cons: Valisi.
Player That Rocks: Liam Tattersal (UWC)
UFH 45-0 RHODES
For UFH:
Tries: Gcweka, Xhosana, Gxekwa 2, Mbakaza, Du Plessis.
Cons: Du Plessis 6.
Pens: Du Plessis 3
Player That Rocks: Merlin du Plessis (UFH)
TUT 50-10 UKZN
For UKZN:
Tries: McArthur.
Cons: Nicholls.
Pens: Nicholls.
For TUT:
Tries: JFelix 2, Prence, Van Zyl 3, Kaunda, Robinson.
Cons: Groenewald 5.
Player That Rocks: Dieter Groenewalt (TUT)
