Maties bounce back with a triumphant win, NWU secures a bonus point victory, and Wits ignite the field with six tries against CUT during Round 6 of the Varsity Cup on Monday, 5 March.
FNB Maties Dominate FNB Ikeys
FNB Maties stormed back to form with a solid 33-14 victory over FNB Ikeys in Stellenbosch on Monday evening.
Match Report:
The opening moments set the tone as FNB Maties wing Duncan Saal crossed the try line within two minutes, thanks to a powerful break by inside centre Chris Smit who provided the assist. Unfortunately, flyhalf Chris Smith missed the conversion.
The game was fast and fiercely contested, with FNB Maties asserting dominance in the set-pieces. Their persistence paid off at the 18th minute with a penalty try awarded following a commanding scrum push.
By the 26th minute, FNB Maties had built an impressive 21-0 lead. Meanwhile, FNB Ikeys squandered key opportunities to get on the scoreboard, notably missing chances early in the first half and again on the half-hour mark.
FNB Maties kept the pressure high. Eighth man Stephan Streicher scored just before halftime, extending the lead to a commanding 26-0. Early in the second half, Janco Venter’s try sealed the deal but not before FNB Ikeys rallied back. Their hooker, Cuan Hablutzel, responded with a try, making it 33-7.
FNB Ikeys scored again at the 67th minute when Maties were reduced to 14 men following Johan Momsen’s sin bin. Despite the challenge, FNB Maties finished strong, punishing errors to close the game at 33-14, solidifying their top spot on the log.
FNB Player That Rocks: Neethling Fouche (FNB Maties)
Scorers
FNB Maties: 33
Tries: Duncan Saal; Brandon Nell; Stephan Streicher; Janco Venter
Conversions: Chris Smith (2)
Yellow Cards: Johan Momsen (FNB Maties); Brandon Valentyn (FNB Maties)
FNB Ikeys: 14
Tries: Cuan Hablutzel; Stefano de Gouveia
Conversions: Karl Martin; Lohan Lubbe
Teams
FNB Maties: 15 Reinardt Fortuin, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Brandon Nell, 8 Stephan Streicher, 7 Chris Massyn, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Janco Venter, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Chippie Oelofse (captain)
Replacements: 16 Hendrik Luus, 17 Ricky Mwagbara, 18 Piet Strauss, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Marno Redelinghuys, 21 Logan Boonzaaier, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Munier Hartzenberg
FNB Ikeys: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Karl Martin, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Robbie Ball, 11 Joel Smith, 10 Darian Hock, 9 Pieter Schoonraad, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (captain), 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Duncan Saffy, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Josh Van Vuuren, 17 Ashwin Adams, 18 Stanley Modjadi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Kwezi Puza, 21 Stefano de Gouveia, 22 Lohan Lubbe, 23 Suwilanji Chibale
FNB NWU Shock FNB Tuks with Bonus Point Win
FNB NWU blazed through with five tries, clinching a 40-26 bonus-point victory over defending champions, FNB UP-Tuks, at the Tuks Rugby Stadium on Monday afternoon.
FNB Player that Rocks: Walt Steenkamp (FNB NWU)
Match report:
A rain-soaked pitch welcomed the teams as FNB UP-Tuks started aggressively, pressing deep into NWU territory but were only able to score a penalty through flyhalf Cliven Loubcher.
Despite Tuks’ early pressure, FNB NWU stood firm and countered with scrumhalf Chriswell September’s try in the 23rd minute. Flyhalf Schalk Hugo converted after an earlier successful penalty kick.
Tuks struggled to find rhythm due to unforced errors and lapses in discipline, while NWU kept up relentless pressure, running their opponents ragged. Before halftime, flanker Gideon van der Merwe scored off a dominant scrum, taking the visitors into the break 20-3 ahead.
The second half saw NWU maintain their relentless attack with No. 8 and captain Tiaan Bezuidenhout adding a score in the 53rd minute. Two quick tries by fullback Tapiwa Mafura and centre Henko Marais further extended their lead, with Wits eventually sealing a 40-26 win despite Tuks scoring three late tries.
Highlights included Lock Marius Verwey and Marnus Potgieter making their presence felt for Tuks, with Johan Grobbelaar adding a late try, though NWU held firm for the win.
Scorers
FNB UP-Tuks: 26
Tries: Marius Verwey, Marnus Potgieter, Johan Grobbelaar
Conversions: Cliven Loubcher
Penalties: Cliven Loubcher
FNB NWU: 40
Tries: Chriswell September, Gideon van der Merwe, Tiaan Bezuidenhout, Tapiwa Mafura, Henko Marais (seven-point try)
Conversions: Schalk Hugo (2)
Penalties: Schalk Hugo (3)
Teams
FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Emilio Adonis, 14 Ciaran Dayaram, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Toko Seerane, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Cliven Loubser, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Eduan Lubbe (captain), 7 Stefan Smit, 6 Reynhard Fourie, 5 Brian Leitch, 4 Marius Verwey, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Ewart Potgieter, 19 Orateng Koikanyang, 20 Joshua Allderman, 21 Ruben Beytell, 22 Tyler Fisher, 23 Mashao Mukhari.
FNB NWU: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 AK Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout (captain), 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Matimu Manqanyi.
Replacements: 16 Percy Mngadi, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theo Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandile Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mathaba, 22 Henko Marais, 23 Jimmy Mpailane.
Wits Keep the Momentum with a Stunning Six-Try Victory Over CUT
FNB Wits delivered a spectacular performance in Bloemfontein, overwhelming FNB CUT 52-18 by scoring six tries, including five converts. They led 25-8 at halftime.
FNB CUT vs FNB Wits
Kick-off: 18h30
Match Report:
FNB CUT opened strong with Denver Klue securing an early penalty to lead 3-0.
However, FNB Wits retaliated fiercely with seven-point tries from David Cary and Lwazi Monakali. Just before half-time, Ruan Wasserman narrowed the gap, but another try by Ameer Williams pushed Wits ahead 25-8.
The second half belonged to Wits with three more seven-pointers by Kwanele Ngema (two) and Ayabilela Mdudi, sealing a full five log points.
FNB CUT’s Stefan Kruger scored their second-half try. Despite valiant efforts, CUT couldn’t match Wits, who clinched victory with two late long-distance tries.
FNB Player that Rocks: Lwazi Monokali (FNB Wits)
Scores
FNB Wits: 52
Tries: Kwanele Ngema (2), David Cary, Lwazi Monakali, Ameer Williams, Ayabulela Mdudi.
Conversions: Christian Humphries (6)
FNB CUT: 18
Tries: Ruan Wasserman, Stefan Kruger
Penalties: Denver Klue (2)
Teams
FNB CUT Starting XV: 15 Dimitrio Tieties, 14 Masego Toolo, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Louis J Nel, 11 Dean Jacobs, 10 Denver Klue, 9 Johannes Heymans (captain), 8 Gerhardus Nel, 7 Ruan Smit, 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Stefan Kruger, 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Stefan van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster
Replacements: 16 Johannes Terblanche, 17 Raynard Esterhuizen, 18 LW Viljoen, 19 Thabo Chirwa, 20 Isiah Bila, 21 Tiisetso Madonsela, 22 Marnu van Niekerk, 23 Karabo Maqeba
FNB Wits Starting XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Adriaan van Blerk, 12 Taine Chabant, 11 Daniel Kapepula, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Ayabulela Mdudi, 7 Jethro de Lange, 6 Constant Beckerling (captain), 5 Sipho Siboza, 4 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt, 3 CJ Greeff, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Pascal Snyman, 19 Dawid Bodenstein, 20 David Cary, 21 Lwazi Monakali, 22 Manqoba Mbatha, 23 Luyolo Qinela
