UCT-Ikeys shock Maties
VARSITY CUP WRAP: UCT Ikeys and the NWU Eagles kicked off their 2021 Varsity Cup campaigns with impressive wins at Tuks Stadium on Monday, while UWC and Shimlas played to a thrilling draw.
We bring you all the Day Two action!
North-West University Eagles 47(19) NMMU-Madibaz 28(11)
Madibaz struck first in the scorching Pretoria heat when they sent the ball wide to wing Khakalethu Bophi, who dotted down in the corner.
NWU Eagles responded through promising centre Conan Le Fleur, who scored a try on his Varsity Cup debut, and flyhalf Marco Donges’ conversion edged them ahead 7-5 midway through the first half.
NWU Eagles hooker Gustav du Rand scored the first of his two tries from a clever lineout move that saw the ball returned to him, and when wing Pienaar van Niekerk ran in another try, the Potchefstroom side led 19-8.
Madibaz flyhalf Christiaan Schutte’s second penalty, just before half-time, kept his team in the game, and they struck again straight after the break when flank Arnouw Nel barged his way over the line.
Du Rand then went over for his second try, before Madibaz captain Luyolo Dapula scored his team’s third.
But two tries in quick succession from NWU Eagles debutants Ruben Dreyer and Meyer Kriel (the latter’s a seven-pointer) made the game safe for their side at 40-21.
Replacement Chadwin November scored a well-deserved bonus-point try for the Madibaz, with the NWU Eagles grabbing their seventh on the stroke of full-time via Riaan Genis.
Player That Rocks: Gustav du Rand (NWU Eagles)
The scorers:
For NWU Eagles
Tries: Le Fleur, Du Rand 2, Van Niekerk, Dreyer, Kriel (one sev-point try), Genis.
Cons: Donges, Le Fleur, Fortune 3
For NMMU Madibaz
Tries: Bophi, Nel, Dapula, Khonza.
Con: November
Pens: Schutte 2
Teams:
NWU Eagles: 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Keano Windvogel, 13 Lincoln Daniels, 12 Conan Le Fleur, 11 Andries van Niekerk, 10 Theodor Donges, 9 Caleb Louw, 8 André Fouché, 7 Sphephelo Mabuza, 6 Chris Vermaak, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Komape Moloto, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Ruben du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Abraham Baumann, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 Ruben Dreyer, 21 Riaan Genis, 22 Keagan Fortune, 23 Meyer Kriel.
NMMU Madibaz: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Khakalethu Bophi, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Johan Lombard, 11 Kholiwe Konza, 10 Christiaan Schutte, 9 Yomelela Keswa, 8 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 7 Jaco van der Walt, 6 Arnouw Nel, 5 Hardus van Eeden, 4 Luyolo Dapula (captain), 3 Le-Kleu Stokes, 2 Tembekile Boltina, 1 Hugo Pienaar.
Replacements: 16 Duan du Plessis, 17 Robert Lyons, 18 Ruan Jonker, 19 Dylan Halgreen, 20 Laken Gray, 21 Gavin Mills, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Kyle Cyster.
University of Western Cape 28 (23) University of Free-State Shimlas 28 (14)
UWC and UFS Shimlas both went into the match sporting new coaches in Paul Treu (former Blitzboks coach) and Pote Human (former Bulls coach) yet nerves seemed to be settled as their experience shone through once the opening minutes worth of teething problems ticked past.
Udubs opened the scoring in the most blistering of fashions as outside centre Aydon Topley swooped in to score a try on debut which flyhalf Mikyle Vraagom converted with ease.
Their Bloemfontein counterparts managed to string a few phases together, which paid out in a try, only for the TMO to disallow it due to a foot in touch.
It became apparent after the first strategy break that UWC were going to attack from everywhere and fullback Gilroy Philander capitalised on this mentality with two point-of-origin tries, including a spectacular dive over the whitewash to beat his defender by mere millimetres.
The 10 minutes before and after half-time showcased two scintillating tries, with Shimlas inside centre Janco Klinck bagging a point-of-origin try that saw the hands of several of his teammates before ending in his breadbasket, while Udubs took only four minutes post half-time to score their bonus-point try courtesy of wing Lundi Msenge.
A common thread throughout the match was large periods of both teams struggling to threaten the scoreboard as play was contained largely between the two red zones.
The final 20 minutes were dominated by UFS Shimlas. Debutant Pierre Uys scored his second try before replacement loose forward George Rossouw’s seven-pointer earned them a bonus point and levelled the scores.
Flyhalf Ethan Wentzel missed the conversion of Rossouw’s try and a late penalty goal attempt, while replacement JP Duvenage was also off-target for UFS Shimlas as both teams had to settle for a draw.
FULL TIME and it ends in a crazy draw as George Rossouw puts @UFSweb on equal terms with a few minutes to go. 4 tries a pieces and another great contest!
FNB UWC 28 – 28 FNB Shimlas#RugbyThatRocks proudly brought to you by @FNBSA and @SteersSA pic.twitter.com/iMRlBkJ77H
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 5, 2021
Player That Rocks: Gilroy Lee Philander (UWC)
The scorers:
For UWC:
Tries: Topley, Philander (two seven-point tries), Msenge.
Cons: Vraagom 2
For UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Uys 2, Klinck (one seven-point try), Rossouw (one seven-point try).
Cons: Ethan Wentzel 3
Teams:
UWC: 15 Gilroy Lee Philander, 14 André Manuel, 13 Aydon Topley, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Mikyle Vraagom, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Bradman Grove, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 4 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel (captain), 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Luvo Bazi.
Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Riaan van der Merwe, 18 Johan Lamprecht, 19 Mauritz Swart, 20 Conwill Conradie, 21 Reece Bocks, 22 Tasriq Mynhardt, 23 Bronlee Mouries.
UFS Shimlas: 15 Cham Zondeki, 14 Jorell Arries, 13 Shayne Bolton, 12 Janco Klinck, 11 Luthando Buthelezi, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger (captain), 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Kamohelo Chabana, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Thabang Mahlasi, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 JW Meades, 2 William Moffat, 1 Daniel Wessels.
Replaceements: 16 Carl Wijburg, 17 Johan Schutte, 18 Henty Beukes, 19 George Rossouw, 20 Uzile Tele, 21 Hlumelo Klaas, 22 JP Duvenage, 23 Luyanda Mkhize.
The third @ikeytigers try against the maroon machine! Christian Stehlik controlling the ball at the base and dotting down.#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/17GMBZyihI
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 5, 2021
UCT Ikeys 26 (16) Maties 20 (7)
In a game plagued by more yellow cards than tries, flyhalf James Tedder got UCT Ikeys off to an emphatic start when his cross-kick was chased down by scrumhalf-turned-wing Liam Kloosman, who scored in the corner. Tedder missed the conversion but added a penalty to make it 8-0.
Ikeys’ elation was short-lived, though, as lock Matthew Grobler and prop Robert Hunt were yellow-carded in quick succession. Maties took full advantage when captain David Brits scored a converted try, but Tedder slotted a penalty while his side was down to 13 men to make it 11-7.
On the stroke of half-time, lock Simon Miller was handed Maties’ first yellow card and UCT Ikeys hooker Devon Arendse scored from a lineout driving maul.
After UCT Ikeys winger Rethabile Louw and Maties flank Matthys Kitshoff had received the fourth and fifth yellow cards of the night, No.8 Christian Stehlik scored from a powerful Ikeys scrum. Tedder nailed the conversion and a mammoth penalty to make it 26-13.
UCT Ikeys’ fourth yellow card, for replacement hooker Josh van Vuuren, was followed by a converted try for Maties flank Mitchell Carstens.
Maties pushed hard for a match-winning try in stoppage time, but UCT Ikeys were able to hang on for a well-deserved win.
Player That Rocks: James Tedder (UCT)
The scorers:
For UCT:
Tries: Kloosman, Arendse, Stehlik
Con: Tedder
Pens: Tedder 3
For Maties:
Tries: Brits, Carstens.
Cons: Fleurs 2
Pens: Fleurs 2
Teams:
UCT Ikeys: 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Liam Kloosman, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Michael Brink, 11 Rethabile Louw, 10 James Tedder, 9 William Rose, 8 Christian Stehlik, 7 Neil Otto, 6 Liam Greenhalgh (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Matthew Grobler, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Devon Arendse, 1 Luthando Woji.
Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Seth Christian, 18 Jovan Bekker, 19 Byron Bowes, 20 Taariq Kruger, 21 Kyle Bowman, 22 Sibabalwe Mzanywa, 23 Rihaz Fredericks.
Maties: 15 Adriaan van der Bank, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Mike Mavovana, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Hannes Gous, 7 Matthys Kitshoff, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Juan Beukes, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Hendrik Luus, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 James Combrinck, 19 Matthew Gray, 20 Jacobus Nel, 21 Lian du Toit, 22 Taigh Schoor, 23 Sibabalwe Xamlashe.
