The coastal teams made a charge up the standings at the conclusion of Round 6 of the 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International on Monday night.
There were important wins for FNB UCT, FNB NMMU and FNB Maties in an enthralling penultimate round of matches before the play-offs, leaving the competition wide open heading into the final week of league action.
The Ikey Tigers ran in four tries against FNB UFS-Shimlas to secure their first victory at home on the Green Mile this season and move into second place, just four log points behind pace-setters FNB NWU-Pukke.
The Cape team scored three tries playing into the wind in the first half and then went on to claim the bonus point after half-time as they romped to a 25-5 victory. This result leaves UFS-Shimlas down in sixth place after starting the round in third position.
Torrential rain in the northern part of the country had a big say in the other three matches, as FNB UJ and FNB UP-Tuks slumped to defeats at home, whilst NWU-Pukke were forced to work hard for their victory over FNB Wits in Potchefstroom.
Defending champions UP-Tuks suffered their second consecutive defeat at home, as the Madibaz ground out a crucial 19-9 win which saw them move past the Pretoria side into third place on the standings. It was NMMU’s second big scalp of 2014, having beaten the Maties back in Round 1.
UP-Tuks are now level on log points with three-time champions Maties who ended UJ’s hopes of making the semifinals this season with a comfortable 24-8 victory.
Points difference is all that separates Maties and UP-Tuks on the log, which sets up their showdown in Stellenbosch next week perfectly.
NWU-Pukke were able to maintain their position at the top of the standings, but they were made to work hard for their 16-8 win by a determined Wits side that is still looking for their first victory in the competition.
Next week will see the final round of league action take place in the 2014 Varsity Cup – without doubt the most open competition since the inaugural event in 2008.
UFS-Shimlas will take on NMMU, Maties will host UP-Tuks, NWU-Pukke will entertain UJ and UCT will face Wits away on March 17 as just ten points separate the top six teams ahead of the semifinals, with home-ground advantage and play-off qualification on the line.
In the Varsity Shield two-time champions FNB CUT travelled to Alice where they earned a bonus-point 28-18 victory over FNB Fort Hare who are the only team to have beaten them since 2012.
Peter de Villiers’ FNB UWC secured a vital 24-17 win over the FNB TUT Vikings in Pretoria to move up to third place, just one log point behind the second-placed FNB UKZN Impi who had a bye.
The Varsity Young Guns showdown between defending champions UP-Tuks and NWU-Pukke had to be postponed until Wednesday due to the unplayable conditions, whilst in the other match FNB UJ notched a dramatic last-minute 28-24 win over the Steinhoff Maties Juniors.
In the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championship UFS champions Steinhoff Heimat scored five tries on their way to a 37-0 demolition of the Steinhoff Purple Cobras in Cape Town to consolidate their spot at the top of the Hi-Fi Corporation pool.
In the Incredible Connection pool Steinhoff Patria from NWU-Pukke edged the Steinhoff Medies Rebels 24-22 in Potchefstroom and the clash between Steinhoff Onderstepoort and Steinhoff Oppidani had to be postponed due to an unplayable pitch in Pretoria.
FNB NWU-Pukke 16 / 8 FNB Wits:
Log-leaders FNB NWU-Pukke were forced to work hard for their 16-8 victory over winless FNB Wits in a wet Potchefstroom on Monday.
The hard-fought win sees NWU-Pukke maintain their spot at the top of the standings, whilst Wits’ losing streak extended to 13 games after another spirited defeat which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table.
After a scrappy start to the game which saw possession change hands often, Wits had the first real opportunity but could not capitalise from the attacking line-out as the NWU-Pukke forwards stood firm.
The home side regrouped as rain began to fall ten minutes into the match and wing Luther Obi came within inches of scoring in the corner, but the TMO ruled that it had been a double movement as he tried to ground the ball over the tryline.
The teams went into the first strategy break still deadlocked at 0-0, although NWU-Pukke had the better of both territory and possession in the opening 20 minutes.
The home side won a tighthead just after the break thanks to a massive shove and they threw everything at the visitors, with hooker Jacques Vermaak eventually forcing his way over for the opening try to put them 8-0 up.
Wits were struck a further blow shortly afterwards when inside centre Brent Crossley was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, but they did not miss him too much as they spent the next ten minutes in the NWU-Pukke 22.
Despite camping on the opposition tryline the visitors could not find a way through and NWU-Pukke took their 8-0 lead into the half-time break.
The hosts made a determined start to the second half as they looked to build on their lead, with Obi and fullback Sylvian Mahuza making a few telling runs.
Wits spent some more quality time in the NWU-Pukke 22, but could not find the finishing touch as the home team’s defence held up well.
NWU-Pukke got their second try just after the second strategy break when flank Philip de Wet combined with No.8 Rhyk Welgemoed to score under the poles, but Wits responded immediately as fullback Ruhan Nel pounced to cut the home side’s lead to 16-8.
That set up a tense final 15 minutes, with both teams giving it everything with the game in the balance, but NWU-Pukke were able to hold on for a tough win in the end.
The scorers:
For FNB NWU-Pukke:
Tries: Vermaak (1), De Wet (1)
Cons: Engelbrecht (2)
For FNB Wits:
Try: Nel (1)
Con: Davids (1)
Yellow Card: Brent Crossley (Dangerous tackle, 27 mins)
Teams:
FNB NWU-Pukke: 15 Sylvain Mahuza, 14 Edmar Marais, 13 Hoffman Maritz, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Tiaan Dorfling (Captain), 8 Rhyk Welgemoed, 7 Robey Labuschagne, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Francois Robbertse, 4 Peet van der Walt, 3 Lhlanhla Ngcamu, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Mashudu Mafela
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Johan Smith, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Jaco Buys, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Rhyno Smith, 22 Lucian Cupido, 23 Elardus Venter.
FNB Wits: 15 Ruhan Nel, 14 Mandla Dube, 13 Divan Ferguson, 12 Brent Crossley, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Mathew Torrance, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Senna Esterhuizen, 6 J.P. Jonck, 5 Rendani Ramovha, 4 Devin Montgomery (Captain), 3 Gideon Muller, 2 Ashley Kohler, 1 Hannes Ludick
Replacements: 16 James Marx, 17 Kyle Wood, 18 Conor Brockschmidt, 19 Peter van Biljon, 20 Joshua Jarvis, 21 Ish Nkolo, 22 Joshua Jarvis, 23 Ferdinand Kelly.
Referees: Jaco Kotze, Jaco Pretorius
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Johan Greeff
FNB UCT x / x FNB Shimlas:
FNB UCT all but booked their place in the play-offs this season with a clinical 25-5 victory over FNB UFS-Shimlas in Round Six of the 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
The Ikey Tigers played into the normally notorious Green Mile wind in the first half, but it did not stop from running into an 18-0 half-time lead, a points-spree which paved their way to victory – amazingly, their first at home in 2014.
But the Men from Cape Town won’t be sweating too much over that record, as their fourth win overall this season – and third four-try victory of 2014 – saw them move to 19 points on the Varsity Cup log; ahead of UFS-Shimlas and Maties, with NMMU due to take on the defending champion UP-Tuks later on today.
UCT ran into an early 10-minute lead with a typically classy Richard Stewart try in the fifth minute of play, followed shortly after by a close-range effort from the always-industrious Jason Klaasen.
Flyhalf Dean Grant was unable to convert the scores, given that he was kicking into quite a stiff breeze (stiff by normal, not Green Mile standards it must be said!), but the hosts would have been elated with their 10-0 lead after as many minutes.
Powerful lock Shaun McDonald crashed over shortly before the 20-minute mark, Grant converting this time, as UCT went into the first strategy break at 18-0 up.
To their credit, the visitors began to put a few phases together as the first half went on, but they were unable to really threaten the UCT line as the hosts maintained their 18-0 going into half-time.
Shimlas started the second half the stronger of the two teams, taking a leaf out of UCT’s book from the first half, but just as they looked to really threaten the opposition goalline the ball was turned over and they were punished. Badly.
It was vintage Ikeys as the ball passed through numerous hands and down the field, Lihleli Xoli giving the final pass to the ever-alert Ross Jones-Davies, who slid in at the left-hand corner for the crucial fourth try.
Grant missed the tricky conversion from the left-hand side, but it was never going to matter, the No.10 later adding a penalty goal as the match moved towards the 70-minute with the Ikeys leading 25-0.
UFS-Shimlas managed a late try through hooker Jacques du Toit in the final 10 minutes, but it did not matter in the final analysis with UCT’s five points putting them within touching distance of a first semifinal since 2011 – the year they lifted the title.
The scorers:
For FNB UCT:
Tries: Stewart (1), Klaasen (1), McDonald (1), Jones-Davies (1)
Pen: Grant (1)
Con: Grant (1)
For FNB UFS-Shimlas:
Try: J du Toit (1)
The teams:
FNB UCT: 15 Ross Jones-Davies, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Guy Shwikard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Dean Grant, 9 Liam Slatem (Captain), 8 Michael Botha, 7 Vince Jobo, 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Shaun McDonald, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Joel Carew
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Guy Alexander, 19 Kyle Kriel, 20 James Alexander, 21 Martin Sauls, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 David Maasch.
FNB UFS-Shimlas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Maphuta Dolo, 13 Tertius Kruger, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht (Captain), 11 Divandre Strydom, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Neil Claassen, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Justin Pappin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Franco van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Markus Odendaal, 17 Luan de Bruin, 18 Johan van der Hoogt, 19 Neill Jordaan, 20 Kay-Kay Hlongwane, 21 Francois du Toit, 22 Sethu Tom, 23 Gideon Bruwer.
Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Quinton Immelman
FNB UJ 8 / 24 FNB Maties:
FNB UJ hosted three-time champions FNB Maties in Round Six of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International with it all to play for in a soaking wet Johannesburg with the Maties taking the much needed points.
The wet conditions underfoot played their part but the game was hardly reduced to a tight, scrappy affair untill late into the second half. In a brutal, intense match up between two teams who showed a lot of heart it was the boys from Stellenbosch that outclassed the larger UJ pack in the end.
Both teams were clearly out to prove something as Maties attacked ruthlessly and UJ defended with all their might in the first half but mistakes and tough conditions let in a near faultless Maties to score three tries to one.
The Maties came out firing with intense pressure applied to the UJ line after Robert du Preez booted Maties into a position where they could strike. Big Jan de Klerk was then able to barge his way over the goal line after multiple phases by the forwards. Robert du Preez was once again on hand to add the additional points.
The second try for Maties came in a similar fashion as the first with Robert du Preez kicking the Maties close to the UJ line and once again a bulldozing forward in Beyers de Villiers was able to barge over just before the first strategy break. Du Preez slotted the conversion to take the Stellenbosch boys into a healthy 16 point lead.
The Maties seemed to have a formula for scoring tries in the first half as once again a great kick from Robert du Preez allowed the Maties pack to set up a strong driving maul with Beyers de Villiers going over for his second. Du Preez with his toughest kick yet was able to slot it tight on the side of the field.
The second half began much like the first only this time with torrential rain coming down, the Maties were relentless towards UJ’s line dominating both territory and possession. Maties attacking resolve slowly faded through the half as while the UJ team tried hard in difficult conditions.
UJ were finally able to breach the Maties line after the 120kg prop Van Zyl Botha was able to motor his way over from close quaters just before the second stratergy break, the build up to the try was far more enterprising from UJ and seemed to spark them into life. Marais Schmidt added to his teams points by poping over the conversion.
As the second half petered out with conditions worsening UJ were not able to add to thier momentum gained from that first try while the Maties seemed happy to defend couragiously as they racked up the tackles ’till the finall whistle.
The scorers:
For FNB UJ:
Try: Botha (1)
Con: Schmidt (1)
For FNB Maties:
Tries: De Klerk (1), De Villiers (2)
Cons: Du Preez (3)
The teams:
FNB UJ: 15 Marais Schmidt, 14 PJ Walters, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Michael Haznar, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Jacques Pretorius (Captain), 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Kobus Porter, 5 David Antonites, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Van Zyl Botha, 2 Jannes Snyman, 1 Devon Marthinus
Replacements: 16 Qinisile Siphato, 17 Wiseman Kamanga, 18 Fabian Booysen, 19 JP Swanepoel, 20 Lukas van Zyl, 21 Juan Kotze, 22 Pieter Morton, 23 Hendrik Bredenkamp.
FNB Maties: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Clearance Khumalo, 13 Mark Hodgskiss, 12 Jacobus Loubser, 11 Caleb Smith, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Tertius Daniller (Captain), 7 Justin Benn, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Nicol Heyns, 2 Charl de Villiers, 1 Niel Oelofse
Replacements: 16 Neethling Gericke, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Ian Groenewald, 19 Helmut Lehmann, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Chris Smith, 22 John Durr, 23 Liam Hendricks.
Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Willie Roos
FNB UP-Tuks 9 / 19 FNB NMMU:
FNB NMMU negotiated the driving rain in Pretoria well to secure a tough 19-9 victory over defending champions FNB UP-Tuks on Monday.
The Eastern Cape side outscored their hosts by two tries to one to move past them on the standings into third place, whilst UP-Tuks were left down in fourth after their second consecutive defeat at home.
The visitors made the early running as they took the game to UP-Tuks and won a series of penalties in their 22, but the rainy conditions made the ball extremely difficult to control and they eventually had to settle for a penalty from flyhalf Gavin Hauptfleisch to open the scoring.
The hosts got on the scoreboard with a penalty from flyhalf Tian Schoeman, but Hauptfleisch responded soon afterwards to keep the Madibaz ahead at 4-2.
They held that advantage at the first strategy break after an opening 20 minutes which saw the teams battling the conditions as much as each other, but UP-Tuks were able to level things up soon afterwards through another Schoeman penalty.
However, it was not long before the visitors had the lead back when a turnover ball was sent out to flying wing Tythan Adams who got over in the corner to put them 9-4 up.
UP-Tuks looked for a response at the end of the half, but their handling let them down in the wet and NMMU went into the half-time break with a valuable five-point advantage.
The visitors made a promising start to the second half as they marched deep into UP-Tuks territory and it was skipper Roy Godfrey who got over for the try which gave them a comfortable 17-4 lead.
That left UP-Tuks with it all to do in front of their home crowd, and the fans did not have to wait long for something to cheer as flank Chris Massyn crossed the whitewash to cut NMMU’s lead to 17-9.
Another Hauptfleisch penalty saw the Madibaz take a handy 19-9 advantage into the second strategy break, with the hosts needing something special in the final 20 minutes to pull off a win.
UP-Tuks were desperate to make a late charge and pressed hard in search of a response, but the Madibaz defence held up well under pressure as they secured the win and denied the home side a single log point to move past them on the standings.
The scorers:
For FNB UP-Tuks:
Try: Massyn (1)
Pens: Schoeman (2)
For NMMU Madibaz:
Tries: Adams (1), Godfrey (1)
Con: Hauptfleisch (1)
Pens: Hauptfleisch (3)
Teams:
FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Kefentse Mahlo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Reniel Hugo (Captain), 7 Rudolph Smith, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Basil Short, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Jannes Kirsten, 19 Leneve Damens, 20 Emile Temperman, 22 Francois Tredoux, 22 Duncan Matthews, 23 Andrew Beerwinkel.
FNB NMMU Madibaz: 15 Jarryd Buys, 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Michael Bernardt, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Yamkela Ngam, 10 Gavin Hauptfleisch, 9 Daniel Acker, 8 Marcel Groenewald, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Christopher Cloete, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Louis Fourie, 3 Dexter Fahey, 2 Jody Reyneke, 1 Roy Godfrey (Captain)
Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Abongile Mnyaka, 18 Tim Agaba, 19 Wade Elliot, 20 Kayle van Zyl, 21 Devon Lailvaux, 22 Sinakho Mafu, 23 Simon Kerrod.
Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Oregopotse Rametsi