Sizzling start to Varsity Cup

In the first match of the inaugural FNB Varsity Cup, the NWU-Pukke triumphed 23-17 against a spirited Ikey Tigers team at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Monday. 

The sizeable crowd were treated to some exciting rugby from both sides as the game see-sawed throughout the 80 minutes.

The Pukke were first to register points when man-of-the-match, fullback Corne Meyer, slotted an early penalty.

For the next 20 minutes it was all UCT.

They dominated possession and territory and were duly awarded when winger, Marcello Sampson, finished off a flowing movement to score in the corner.

A while later, it was that man Meyer again who scored the visitor’s first try, courtesy of some poor defence by the Ikeys backline.

On the stroke of half-time, Pukke added another try, No.13, Paul Bosch dotting down.

That made it 15-5 going into the break.

Pukke then threatened to run away with things, a penalty and then a try, by substitute Markus Fourie, stretched the lead to 23-5.

UCT then awoke from their ‘slumber’ and for that they can thank the talented centre, Matthew Turner.

Turner finished off a great move by using his speed to crash in at the corner, and a minute later a moment of brilliance by the self-same Turner reduced the deficit to just six points.

Pukke then hung on for all they were worth in the closing stages to secure a 23-17 win.

It was a thoroughly entertaining match and a great advert for the FNB Varsity Cup.

* In the televised game of the day, the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) staged a truly remarkable comeback against Stellenbosch rivals, Maties, to draw 31-all – after trailing 10-31 with eight minutes to go.

A dramatic end, with four tries in the last six minutes, saw Tukkies draw after a last-gasp retaken conversion kick.

Maties were seemingly cruising home after they had dominated the first half, before Tuks found their feet, when four tries in six minutes  saw the visitors creep back at the Danie Craven Stadium.

With the score 31-29 to Maties, Chandre Boshoff’s final conversion seemed over, but was overruled by a touch judge.

However, an early charge by the Maties gave him a second bite of the cherry, and the Tukkies walked off with an unlikely draw.

* The other match on the opening day of South Africa’s newest showcase of rugby talent, the University of Johannesburg scored a comfortable 35-12 win over Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

At UJ Stadium in Johannesburg, the home side, beaten 62-0 by Brakpan just 10 days ago, were always in control against TUT who scored on the hooter to make the 35-12 score line a little more respectable.

JJ Pienaar, who was brilliant from start to finish, scored and made breaks at will and was aptly named Man of the Match.

Four tries to two tell the story of the favourites’ demise, and not much came of the predicted dominance of the TUT pack.

The opening round of the Varsity Cup really did live up to its mantra of ‘Rugby that Rocks’.

Scores and scorers:

NWU-Puk 23 UCT 17:

Scorers:

NWU-Puk:
Tries: Corne Meyer, Paul Bosch, Markus Fourie
Cons: Meyer
Pens: Meyer 2

UCT:
Tries: Matthew Turner 2, Marcello Samsung
Con: Matthew Rosslee

Maties 31 Tukkies 31:

Scorers:

Maties:
Tries: Lucien Cloete 2, Cameron Peverett, Pieter Stoffberg
Con: Stoffberg
Pens: Henoe Stoffberg 3

Tukkies:
Tries: Gerhard van den Heever, Henk de Ridder, Eben Joubert, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Shaun Davids
Cons: Chandre Boshoff 3

UJ 35 TUT 12:

Scorers:

TUT:
Tries: Aubrey Macdonald, Jan-Harm Steenkamp
Con: Braam Pretorius

UJ:
Tries: JJ Pienaar, Bryan Stephen, Wesley Delport, Yannick Wombo
Cons: Ryno Luus 3
Pens: Luus 3