UWC keep semi hopes alive, UCT remain unbeaten

VARSITY CUP WRAP: UWC blew the Varsity Cup semi-final race wide open with a 60-19 thrashing of CUT, while there were also Round 8 wins for UFS Shimlas, Maties, UP-Tuks and UCT on Thursday.

WITS 34 (19) UFS Shimlas 42 (21)

UFS Shimlas scored six tries in a hard-fought win against Wits at the Tuks B-Field.

Pote Human’s men came into this match with confidence after an impressive performance against UP-Tuks on Monday, while Wits were playing their first game in the third bio-bubble.

Flyhalf Keagan Lailvaux slotted an early penalty for Wits, but it was Shimlas who scored the first try through lock Uzile Tele in the 25th minute before eighthman Gustav Meyer was yellow-carded for cynical play.

Wits reclaimed the lead when wing Lwazi Monkali scored a converted point-of-origin try to take them 12-7 up.

But it was UFS Shimlas who went into half-time 21-19 ahead thanks to tries from prop Johan Schutte and flank Thabo Ndimande either side of wing Sthsaba Mqhatu’s effort for Wits.

Ndabinde secured his brace early in the second half, before Wits flank Mark Snyman powered his way over the tryline to make it a one-point game.

Flyhalf JP Duvenage’s self-converted point-of-origin try put UFS Shimlas ahead 37-27 with 10 minutes remaining.

Wits got themselves back in the fight when hooker Dameon Venter mauled his way over the whitewash, but his opposite number William Moffat sealed the bonus-point win for UFS Shimlas when he scored in the 77th minute.

Player That Rocks: Kamo Chabana (Shimlas)

The scorers:

For Wits
Tries: Lwazi Monakali (1×7), Sthsaba Mqhatu, Mark Snyman, Dameon Venter.
Cons: Keagan Lailvaux 3
Pens: Lailvaux 2

For UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Uzile Tele, Johan Schutte, Thabo Ndabinde (2), JP Duvenage (1×7), William Moffat.
Cons: JP Duvenage 6

Wits: 15 Jimmy Mpailane, 14 Lwazi Monakali, 13 Yanga Hlalu, 12 Matthew Mcdonald, 11 Sthsaba Mqhatu, 10 Keagan Lailvaux, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Phillip Krause, 7 Golden Msipha, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 William Thomson, 4 Junior White, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Dameon Venter (captain), 1 Banele Mthenjane.
Replaceemtns: 16 Mulalo Sadiki, 17 Jason Cloete, 18 Ebot Buma, 19 Kyle van Eyssen, 20 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 21 Dylan Meyer, 22 Setshaba Mokoena, 23 Siyabonga Xulu.

UFS Shimlas: 15 Luyanda Mkhize, 14 Francois Agenbag, 13 Shayne Bolton, 12 Danco Burger, 11 Aya Matroos, 10 JP Duvenage (captain), 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Gustav Meyer, 7 Kamo Chabana, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Uzile Tele, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 JW Meades, 2 Wihan Marais, 1 Johan Schutte.
Replacements: 16 William Moffat, 17 Henty Beukes, 18 Tshepo Nchabeng, 19 Shine Msipha, 20 Bakkies Rossouw, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ethan Wentzel, 23 Luthando Buthelezi.

MATIES 49 (35) UJ 14 (0)

Maties fed off the ill-discipline of UJ to run in seven tries at Tuks Stadium as the business end of the competition draws near.

The five log points keep the men from Stellenbosch in third place on the log.

The opening 10 minutes was akin to a wrestling match with neither side being able to convert possession into points while crashing into each other at a rate of knots.

It would take a moment of foul play to awaken the full might of the Maroon Machine as UJ fullback Boldwin Hansen’s high tackle on wing Munier Hartzenberg resulted in a penalty try, the first in 2021 that also counted as a point-of-origin try. Hansen served 10 minutes in the bin.

Maties needed little motivation to capitalise on the numerical advantage and secured their bonus-point try by the 21st minute as Hartzenberg crossed, before his fellow wing Siba Xamlashe touched down to cap off a well-earned point-of-origin try.

Prop Dian Bleuler was credited with wrapping up the bonus point and although flyhalf Adriaan van der Bank missed the extras, he did convert both tries by the wings to inflate the scoreline to 30-0.

A period of frustration followed for the five-time champions but they did strike just before half-time when hooker HJ Luus profited off a strong drive.

It was sparse pickings when the match resumed, though, as it took Maties 16 minutes to extend their lead, with inside centre Taigh Schoor dotting down a converted try, before replacement hooker André-Hugo Venter was shown a yellow.

The Orange Army finally etched their name on the scoreboard as replacement prop Nkosikhona Masuku powered over like an angry elephant and flyhalf Jurich Claasens’ conversion reduced the lead to the half-time deficit.

However, UJ then lost No 8 and captain Kwagga van Niekerk and flank Kelvin Kanekungo to yellow cards.

Down to 13 men, one would expect UJ to shore up on defence but they were able to score a converted point-of-origin try to replacement loose forward Franco Schutte.

UJ’s ill-discipline continued when replacement prop Coenrad Very was red-carded for a swinging arm, before Maties shut proceedings down with a try courtesy of Venter.

Player That Rocks: Munier Hartzenberg (Maties)

The scores:

For Maties:
Tries: Penalty try (1×9), Munier Hartzenberg, Siba Xamlashe (1×7), Dian Bleuler, HJ Luus, Taigh Schoor, André-Hugo Venter.
Cons: Adriaan van der Bank 2, Juan Mostert 2

For UJ
Tries: Nkosikhona Masuku, Franco Schutte (1×7).
Con: Jurich Claasens.

Maties: 15 Juan Mostert, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits (captain), 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 10 Adriaan van der Bank, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Ben-Jason Dixon, 7 Thys Kitshoff, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan de Leeuw, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Duncan du Buisson, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Johan Strauss, 21 Dylan ‘Bobby’ Alexander, 22 Waqar Solaan, 23 Nevaldo Fleurs.

UJ: 15 Boldwin Hansen, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Nkondlo Radebe, 12 Indiphile Tyeda, 11 Nqubeko Mkwanazi, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Eduan Smit, 8 Kwagga van Niekerk (captain), 7 Peter-John Steenkamp, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Brendon Pawson, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Darnell Osuagwu, 1 Kayden Kiewit.
Replacemts: 16 Pierre Rabie, 17 Nkosikhona Masuku, 18 Coenrad Vrey, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Franco Schutte, 21 Mpho Kubheka, 22 Jonathan Viljoen, 23 Tyreeq February.

MADIBAZ 0 UP-TUKS 75 (44)

Captain Sango Xamlashe and fullback Zander du Plessis powered UP-Tuks to an impressive win against a deflated Madibaz side at the Tuks B-field.

Hooker Llewellyn Classen also made his mark, coming off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as UP-Tuks finished with 11 tries.

The result sees the tournament hosts remain in second place on the log.

UP-Tuks drew first blood through wing Tharquinn Manuel, who dived over in the corner. Xamlashe then ran in the first point-of-origin try of the game, with Du Plessis adding a conversion and then scoring a try of his own.

Tuks’ rampage continued when prop Cebolenkosi Dlamini powered through the Madibaz defence, and Xamlashe and Du Plessis both earned their second tries to make it 44-0 at half-time.

Discipline cost both teams towards the end of the first half when prop Damien Swartz was yellow-carded for UP-Tuks, followed shortly afterwards by his opposite number, Le-Kleu Stokes, for a no-arms tackle in the build-up to Du Plessis’ second try.

Both UP-Tuks hookers added to the try tally by bullying their way over the line to take their team past the 50-point mark.

The hosts then scored their third point-of-origin try through wing Tharquinn Manuel after a great individual effort from scrumhalf Clyde Lewis, before Classen crossed the line twice late in the game to complete his hat-trick.

Player That Rocks: Clyde Lewis (UP-Tuks)

The scorers:

For UP-Tuks:
Tries: Tharquinn Manuel (1×5, 1×7), Sango Xamlashe (1×7, 1×5), Zander du Plessis (1×5, 1×7), Cebolenkosi Dlamini, Werner Fourie, Llewellyn Classen (3).
Cons: Zander du Plessis 7

For Madibaz: NONE

Madibaz: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Khakalethu Bophi, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Stephan Botes, 11 Njabulo Toni, 10 Tiaan Schutte, 9 Yomelela Keswa, 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jaco van der Walt, 6 Arnouw Nel, 5 Dylan Halgreen, 4 Luyolo Dapula (captain), 3 Le-Kleu Stokes, 2 Tembekile Boltina, 1 Robert Lyons.
Replaceemtns: 16 Corné Slabbert, 17 Jordan Caraher, 18 Laken Gray, 19 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 20 André Gerber, 21 Warrick Day, 22 Tiaan Gerber, 23 Likhona Dywili.

UP-Tuks: 15 Zander du Plessis, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Tharquinn Manuel, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Damien Swartz, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Cebolenkosi Dlamini.
Replacemts: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 André van der Merwe, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Dawid Meiring, 20 Johannes Mare, 21 Jaylen James, 22 Enrique Oranje, 23 Ambesa Zenzile.

UWC 60 (14) CUT IXIAS 19 (19)

UWC scored eight converted tries in a ruthless showing against CUT at Tuks Stadium.

Udubs’ full house of points ensures a dramatic end to fill the fourth spot in the semi-final race especially considering they will be aiming to do the same against Wits come Sunday. They are now just two log points behind CUT, who have a game in hand.

An enthralling first stanza was packed with classy running lines and throwing caution to the wind as two of the Varsity Cup’s most exciting attacking teams collided.

First up was hooker Janus Venter for the Ixias, who barrelled his way over to score a converted try, before UWC hit back with two tries, neatly sandwiched like a quality BLT, via hooker Jason Alexander and flank Tinotenda Mavesere.

Ixias wing Ricoman Titus rounded off the delicious analogy as his converted try levelled the scores, and his charges pulled in front when fullback and Cheetahs-bound Cohen Jasper dotted down in the 35th minute to ensure the half-time break was a positive one for the Bloemfontein outfit.

The second half began with a sizzling point-of-origin try to UWC that started with a change in possession before silky hands and snappy running was finished off by outside centre Aydon Topley. Scrumhalf Branden de Kock followed up with a converted five-pointer of his own two minutes later.

UWC shifted into juggernaut after the second strategy break as Alexander collected his brace from close range and replacement lock Bronlee Mouries recorded try No 6.

The men from the Cape just would not let up on attack, scoring twice in the final five minutes. Replacement scrumhalf Conwill Conradie’s clever back pass was returned to him as he ran in untouched and Topley then cashed in his brace as the sun set on a mesmerising display of rugby.

Player That Rocks: Jason Alexander (UWC)

The scorers:

For UWC:
Tries: Jason Alexander (2), Tinotenda Mavesere, Aydon Topley (1×7, 1×5), Branden de Kock (1×7), Bronlee Mouries, Conwill Conradie.
Cons: De Kock 6, Topley 2

For CUT Ixias:
Tries: Janus Venter, Ricoman Titus, Cohen Jasper.

Cons: Charles Williams 2

UWC: 15 Ethan Diston, 14 Peter Williams, 13 Aydon Topley, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Johannes van Biljon, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Tinotenda Mavesere, 7 Bradman Grove, 6 Romuald Nsombamanya, 5 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel (captain), 4 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Ebrahiem Davids.
Replaceemtns: 16 Mauritz Swart, 17 Riaan van der Merwe, 18 Bronlee Mouries, 19 Johan Lamprecht, 20 Conwill Conradie, 21 Hedley Hadlow, 22 André Manuel, 23 Liam Tattersal.

CUT Ixias: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout, 11 Ricoman Titus, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Luvuyo Ndevu (captain), 7 Bennett Nortjé, 6 Johannes Terblanche, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Wandré Nortjé, 17 Thabiso Msiza, 18 Raynard Esterhuizen, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Francois Bester, 21 Jandré de Beer, 22 Emilio Adonis, 23 Ulrich Stander.

NWU EAGLES 36 (10) UCT IKEYS 42 (22)

UCT resisted a second-half surge by NWU to lock up a vital victory at Tuks Stadium.

The five-point haul took the Ikey Tigers back to the top of the log after UP-Tuks had briefly occupied the position earlier in the day, while the Eagles’ two bonus points see them finish Round 8 in fifth position, one point behind CUT and one ahead of UWC.

NWU celebrated the life of 2018 captain Tiaan Bezuidenhout, who passed away in a tragic car accident earlier this month, by retiring the No 8 jersey for this match. Ruben Dreyer wore the No 24 jumper instead as a nod towards the life and times of a very special player to the NWU family.

The Ikey Tigers, undoubtedly the frontrunners to lift the trophy on 31 May, flexed their prowess as fullback James Tedder scored a converted point-of-origin try and slotted a penalty goal to rack up a healthy lead within the first 15 minutes.

Wing Rethabile Louw followed suit with strong try before the Eagles opened their account through flank Jandré Burger.

Tedder would land another penalty but NWU prop Komape Moloto barged over to reduce the deficit to 22-10 at half-time.

The Ikeys Express took just four minutes to score when the match resumed with lock Connor Evans dotting down, before NWU replacement prop Sampie Swiegers pulled back a try that was converted by flyhalf Nivan Petersen.

Replacement lock Byron Bowes cantered over for a try for UCT which Tedder naturally converted. He added a further two penalty goals, while Burger swiped his brace quicker than a teenager at an arcade.

Bowes bowed out to a yellow card in the 68th minute to which NWU duly cashed in as flank André Fouché dashed over the chalk and inside centre Marco Donges was deadeye on target with extras.

Another yellow card against the Ikey Tigers, this time to replacement prop Jovan Bekker, paved the way for Eagles wing Sylvestor Hassien to score a vital stoppage-time try that wrapped up two bonus points, but was ultimately not enough for the win.

Player That Rocks: Liam Greenhalgh (UCT Ikeys)

The scorers:

For NWU Eagles:
Tries: Jandré Burger (2), Komape Moloto, Sampie Swiegers, André Fouché, Sylvestor Hassien.
Cons: Nivan Petersen, Marco Donges 2

For UCT Ikeys:
Tries: James Tedder (1×7), Rethabile Louw, Connor Evans, Byron Bowes.
Cons: Tedder 4
Pens: Tedder 4

NWU Eagles: 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Sylvester Hassien, 13 Lincoln Daniels (captain), 12 Marco Donges, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 Nivan Petersen, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Ruben Dreyer, 7 Jandré de Beer, 6 André Fouché, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Nelius Theron, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Komape Moloto.
Replacements: Gustav du Rand, 17 Ruben du Plessis, 18 Sampie Swiegers, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 George van der Westhuizen, 21 Caleb Louw, 22 Kagiso Woodbridge, 23 Keano Windvogel.

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