UCT crush CUT, Tuks survive UWC

VARSITY CUP WRAP: UCT hammered CUT in a top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash at Tuks Stadium on Monday, while UP-Tuks claimed a hard-fought win against UWC.

UCT 76(42) CUT 5(0)

UCT confirmed their status as Varsity Cup title favourites by thrashing CUT.

This top-of-the-log clash between the only two unbeaten teams in the competition was one-way traffic from start to finish as the Ikey Tigers scored 12 tries, including a hat-trick by fullback Athi Gazi. Coming into this fixture, CUT had conceded just seven tries in four matches.

Scrumhalf William Rose opened the scoring for UCT with an early try, before point-of-origin tries from Gazi and winger Rethabile Louw made it 21-0.

In typical 2021 Varsity Cup fashion, hooker Devon Arendse got his name on the scoresheet, before centre Le Roux Malan scored UCT’s bonus-point try. Flank Neil Otto went over on the stroke of half-time to make it 42-0.

CUT’s woes continued in the second half when Gazi’s second try was followed by a yellow card to Brendon Fortuin. Gazi scored his hat-trick try in the lock’s absence.

UCT were reduced to 13 men when replacement wing Rihaz Fredericks was red-carded for a dangerous tackle and Louw was yellow-carded shortly after for another high shot.

The Ixias used their forwards to get their only try of the game from an excellent rolling maul, but the 13-man Ikey Tigers then scored twice, through replacement hooker Josh van Vuuren and wing Liam Kloosman.

Louw completed the rout with a last minute, seven-point try.

Player That Rocks: Le Roux Malan (UCT)

The scorers:

For UCT:
Tries: Rose, Gazi (one sev-point try, 2), Louw (two sev-point tries), Arendse, Malan, Otto, Porter, Van Vuuren, Kloosman.
Cons: Tedder 5

For CUT Ixias:
Try: Terblanche.

UCT Ikeys: 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Le Roux Malan, 11 Liam Kloosman, 10 James Tedder, 9 William Rose, 8 Taariq Kruger, 7 Neil Otto, 6 Liam Greenhalgh (captain), 5 Connor Evans, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Devon Arendse, 1 Luthando Woji.
Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Seth Christian, 18 Jovan Bekker, 19 Byron Bowes, 20 Keagan Blanckenberg, 21 Kyle Bowman, 22 Michael Brink, 23 Rihaz Fredericks.

CUT Ixias: 15 Emilio Adonis, 14 Tsepo Malumane, 13 Jandré de Beer, 12 Karabo Maqeba, 11 Juandré Sabbat, 10 Niell Stannard, 9 Xander Botha, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Bennett Nortjé, 6 Francois Bester, 5 Brendon Fortuin, 4 Matthew Sekele, 3 Wandré Nortjé, 2 Janus Venter (captain), 1 Raynard Esterhuizen.
Replacements: 16 Johannes Terblanche, 17 Tebogo Masemola, 18 Thabiso Msiza, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Hardus Nel, 21 Jaco Wilkinson, 22 Charles Williams, 23 Cohen Jasper.

UWC 25(10) UP-Tuks 31(26)

UP-Tuks returned to winning ways as their five tries were enough to hold off a resilient UWC.

The Stripe Generation fielded a vastly different team as player rotation comes into play after four brutal rounds, with Zander du Plessis starting at flyhalf instead of his usual position of fullback.

UP-Tuks were in control for the majority of the match, with their set moves off set plays providing countless opportunities on attack while their defence repeatedly frustrated Udubs.

However, two yellow cards to UP-Tuks at the death allowed UWC to creep back into the match.

It didn’t take the three-time champions long to breach Udubs’ line as scrumhalf Johan Mulder darted over before prop André van der Merwe, outside centre and captain Louritz van der Schyff scored. Du Plessis then secured the bonus-point try in the 31st minute.

Udubs scored their first points in the 25th minute via the boot of flyhalf Ethan Diston before inside centre Jason Cloete ran a deft line to leave UP-Tuks’ defence dumbfounded to touch down, with the conversion reducing the deficit to 16 points at half-time.

The third quarter was certainly not as flashy as the first 40, with Diston slotting a penalty before UP-Tuks replacement hooker Llwellyn Claasen profited off the back of a strong lineout drive.

The Stripe Generation’s discipline took a dip in the final 10 minutes as they were reduced to 13 men within a minute, with replacement loose forward Divan Venter (repeated team infringements) and Van der Schyff (taking out a player in the air) yellow-carded. That ensured that the men from Pretoria had to shift to defence mode to protect their lead.

Ultimately, UP-Tuks’ defence failed, although it should be credited for holding out as long as it did as Udubs exploited their two-man advantage with hooker Jason Alexander the man to score.

UWC scored the final points of the match with a minute remaining as No 8 Godfrey Muzanargwo’s try was converted by Diston.

Udubs had a chance to attack from deep after the full-time hooter, but a questionable grubber kick was collected by UP-Tuks, who ended the contest.

Player That Rocks: Johan Mulder (UP-Tuks)

The scorers:

For UWC:
Tries: Cloete, Alexander, Muzanargwo.
Cons: Diston 2
Pens: Diston 2

For UP-Tuks:
Tries: Mulder, Van der Merwe, Van der Schyff, Du Plessis, Classen.
Cons: Du Plessis 3

UWC: 15 Gilroy Lee Philander, 14 Peter Williams, 13 Aydon Topley, 12 Jason Cloete, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Ethan Diston, 9 Conwill Conradie, 8 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 7 Jacques Mostert, 6 Mauritz Swart, 5 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 4 Liam Tattersal, 3 Ebrahiem Davids, 2 Jason Alexander (captain), 1 Johan Lamprecht.
Replacements: 16 Tinotenda Mavesere, 17 Luvo Bazi, 18 Jacques van Zyl, 19 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel, 20 André Manuel, 21 Tiaan Henecke, 22 Branden de Kock, 23 Justin Theys.

UP-Tuks: 15 Ambesa Zenzile, 14 Tharquinn Manuel, 13 Louritz van der Schyff (captain), 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Irvin Ali, 10 Zander du Plessis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Orateng Koikanyang, 7 Stephan Smit, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Damien Swartz, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 André van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Dawid Meiring, 20 Divan Venter, 21 Clyde Lewis, 22 Sango Xamlashe, 23 Jaylen James.

Tuesday, April 27

Round five:

Fixtures:
UJ vs Shimlas
Wits vs Madibaz
Maties vs NWU Eagles