Ikeys beat UWC for Chester Williams trophy

VARSITY CUP WRAP: Fullback Zander du Plessis kicked an 83rd-minute penalty goal to give UP-Tuks a 42-39 win against UFS Shimlas at Loftus Versfeld on Monday, while there were also Round 7 victories for Maties and UCT.

Maties 44(30) Madibaz 14(0)

Maties scored six tries to beat Gqeberha-based Madibaz.

It was rather unconvincing, considering the stellar heights the five-time Varsity Cup champions usually operate at, but a win is a win and it saw them finish the day in third place on the log.

The usually composed and clinical Maties have not been at their best throughout the 2021 campaign and it showed against the winless Madibaz, who frustrated the Maroon Machine with a hardy defensive line.

However, one cannot win with defence alone and the cracks appeared in the ninth minute when Maties flank Thys Kitshoff powered over for the opening try.

His efforts were followed by five-pointers to fullback Juan Mostert and passionate captain and outside centre David Brits, before Mostert bagged his brace with a fantastic point-of-origin try after the Madibaz failed to find touch with time up in the first half.

Flyhalf Adriaan van der Bank kicked all four conversions to add to a 30-0 lead at the break, while the Madibaz were left wondering why their intent had yet to be rewarded.

The second half was much of the same as the men from Stellenbosch relied on the mistakes of their opposition as opposed to creating anything of real value.

Brits secured his brace within five minutes, before another hiatus of points being scored caused the match to lose the remaining allure that was brimming before kick-off.

Flank Gift Dlamini dotted down for a point-of-origin try in the 66th minute to cap off a strong showing, but Van der Bank could only convert Brits’ try.

It certainly didn’t help Maties’ cause that they were served two yellow cards in the final 20 minutes to hooker JJ Kotze and replacement lock James Combrinck.

The numerical advantage was seized by the Madibaz as replacement utility backs Khakalethu Bophi (point of origin) and Likhona Dywili scored tries, with Tiaan Schutte adding a conversion.

Player That Rocks: Juan Mostert (Maties)

The scorers:

For Maties:
Tries: Thys Kitshoff, Juan Mostert (1×5,1×7), David Brits (2), Gift Dlamini (1×7).
Cons: Adriaan van der Bank 5

For Madibaz:
Tries: Khakalethu Bophi (1×7), Likhona Dywili.
Con: Tiaan Schutte.

Maties: 15 Adriaan van der Bank, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits (captain), 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Ben-Jason Dixon, 7 Matthys Kitshoff, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 James Combrinck, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Lian du Toit, 22 George Lourens, 23 Mike Mavovana.

Madibaz: 15 Chadwyn November, 14 Nkoka Ngobe, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Stephan Botes, 11 Njabulo Toni, 10 Tiaan Schutte, 9 Yomelela Keswa, 8 Cameron Cato, 7 Jaco van der Walt, 6 Arnouw Nel, 5 Hardus van Eeden, 4 Luyolo Dapula (captain), 3 Le-Kleu Stokes, 2 Corné Slabbert, 1 Robert Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Ruan Jonker, 17 Jordan Caraher, 18 Laken Gray, 19 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 20 Gavin Mills, 21 Tiaan Swanepoel, 22 Khakalethu Bophi, 23 Likhona Dywili.

UCT 58(31) UWC 55(22)

UCT edged UWC in a 14-try thriller to become the first holders of the Chester Williams Memorial Trophy.

This was the first Udubs-Ikeys Cape derby to be played in honour of the former Springbok wing, who coached  UWC to their two Varsity Shield titles, the second of which earned them promotion to the Varsity Cup.

It looked like  UWC might mark the occasion with an upset win when they led 15-3 after 13 minutes, and then fought back well late in the game to get to within three points of UCT. But the log-leading Ikeys Tigers, who outscored their opponents by eight tries to six, were able to hang on for the win.

UWC made a great start to this match, with scrumhalf Branden de Kock slotting two penalties before wing Lundi Msenge scored a point-of-origin try in the left corner after chasing down a kick.

UCT turned to their forward pack to get them into the game, with hooker Devon Arendse and prop Robert Hunt both forcing their way over the whitewash. Hunt’s try came after UWC flank Godfrey Muzanargwo had been sent to the sin bin.

Wing Rethabile Louw and scrumhalf Kyle Bowman then ran in two point-of-origin tries to give the Ikey Tigers a 31-15 lead.

But UCT flyhalf James Tedder was yellow-carded and UWC capitalised immediately through No.8 Tinotenda Mavasere.

The tries continued to flow in the second half, with Bowman completing his hat-trick and centres Le Roux Malan and Evardi Boshoff also dotting down.

Msenge atoned for his yellow card early in the second half by scoring two more point-of-origin tries for UWC to complete a memorable hat-trick.

With a minute remaining, UWC centre André Manuel ran in yet another seven-point try and the conversion made it a three-point game. But UCT were able to wind down the clock and retain their unbeaten record in this year’s Varsity Cup.

Player That Rocks: Evardi Boshoff (UCT Ikeys)

The scorers:

For UCT Ikeys
Tries: Devon Arendse, Robert Hunt, Rethabile Louw (1×7), Kyle Bowman (1×7, 2×5), Le Roux Malan, Evardi Boshoff.
Cons: James Tedder 5
Pens: Tedder 2

For UWC:
Tries: Lungi Msenge (3×7), Tinotenda Mavasere, penalty try, André Manuel (1×7).
Cons: Branden de Kock 3
Pens: De Kock 3

UCT Ikeys: 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Le Roux Malan, 11 Duran Koevort, 10 James Tedder, 9 Kyle Bowman, 8 Taariq Kruger, 7 Neil Otto, 6 Liam Greenhalgh (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Matthew Grobler, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Devon Arendse, 1 Luthando Woji.
Replacements: 16 Alex Castle, 17 Ashwyn Adams, 18 Jovan Bekker, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Christian Stehlik, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Michael Brink, 23 Sibabalwe Mzanywa.

UWC: 15 Gilroy Lee Philander, 14 Tasriq Mynhardt, 13 André Manuel, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Johannes van Biljon, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Tinotenda Mavesere, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Romuald Nsombamanya, 5 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel (captain), 4 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Luvo Bazi.
Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Ebrahiem Davids, 18 Bronlee Mouries, 19 Bradman Grove, 20 Conwill Conradie, 21 Jason Cloete, 22 Ethan Diston, 23 Riaan van der Merwe.

UFS 39(16) UP-Tuks 42(27)

UP-Tuks fullback Zander du Plessis held his nerve to kick a match-winning penalty goal in the 83rd-minute of their clash against UFS Shimlas.

Du Plessis had missed a penalty from straight in front late in the game, but made no mistake when given the opportunity to make amends in stoppage time.

It gave UP-Tuks a somewhat fortunate win against an UFS Shimlas team that fought back from 20-0 down after 29 minutes to take a 39-32 lead after 64 minutes.

Shimlas centre Danco Burger and lock Pierre Uys both grabbed a double, while regular captain Rewan Kruger also scored in an impressive performance off the bench.

However, UP-Tuks levelled the scores at 39-39 when replacement prop Etienne Janeke went over for his second try of the night and Du Plessis added the conversion.

UFS Shimlas replacement hooker William Moffat was yellow-carded with four minutes to go, but his team continued to attack from inside their half well after the full-time hooter. Unfortunately for them, they conceded a breakdown penalty, for which Du Plessis made them pay.

UP-Tuks had looked set for a comfortable win after taking a 20-point lead, with prop Dewald Donald and centre Louritz van der Schyff crossing for tries, and Du Plessis adding two conversions to his two earlier penalties.

But Burger’s first try – a seven-pointer – was followed by Uys’ first just before half-time, and when Burger scored again early in the second half it set up a thrilling battle that would be decided in dramatic fashion.

Player That Rocks: Rewan Kruger (UFS Shimlas)

The scorers:

For UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Danco Burger (1×7, 1×5), Pierre Uys (1×5, 1×7), Rewan Kruger.
Cons: JP Duvenage 5

For UP-Tuks
Tries: Dewald Donald, Louritz van der Schyff, Eduan Lubbe, Etienne Janeke (2).
Cons: Zander du Plessis 4
Pens: Du Plessis 3

UFS Shimlas: 15 Luyanda Mkhize, 14 Francois Agenbag, 13 Shayne Bolton, 12 Danco Burger, 11 Ayabonga Matroos, 10 JP Duvenage, 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe (captain), 7 Uzile Tele, 6 Kamohelo Chabana, 5 Thabang Mahlasi, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 JW Meades, 2 Wihan Marais, 1 Johan Schutte.
Replacements: 16 William Moffat, 17 Henty Beukes, 18 Tshepo Nchabeng, 19 George Rossouw, 20 Gustav Meyer, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Shima Molepo, 23 Luthando Buthelezi.

UP-Tuks: 15 Zander du Plessis, 14 Ciaran Dayaram, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Irvin Ali, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Mihlali Stamper, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Dawid Meiring, 3 Damien Swartz, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Dewald Donald.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Cebolenkosi Dlamini, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Stephan Smit, 20 Divan Venter, 21 Ruhan Viviers, 22 Enrique Oranje, 23 Ambesa Zenzile.