Varsity Cup wrap: Maties win Cape derby, Wits complete comeback and Eagles dominate
Round two of the Varsity Cup campaign had a few big fixtures which delivered big results on Monday night.
Maties bagged their first win of the new season, while there were also Varsity Cup triumphs for the NWU Eagles, Shimlas and Wits.
Maties beat rivals the UCT Ikey Tigers at a windswept Green Mile in Cape Town, Shimlas edged UJ in Johannesburg, the Eagles thrashed visitors UWC in Potchefstroom and Wits toppled CUT in Johannesburg.
VARSITY CUP WRAP (ROUND TWO)
It was Maties who walked away smiling after a gutsy 15-10 win over UCT Ikeys at the Green Mile in Cape Town.
Facing heavy wind, the Ikey Tigers fought hard to stop the Maties pack, who held the home side tight in their 22-metre area. Both sides showed gutsy performances as the wind continued to blow at the Green Mile, something that seemed to be the difference on the field, with no scores to show after 15 minutes of play.
Seven minutes before half-time, the Maroon Machine finally took advantage as winger Matthew Emile van Schalkwyk ran through the Tigers’ wall to dive under the poles. The try came just a few minutes after flyhalf Juan Mostert slotted a penalty.
The Cape Winelands side took a comfortable 10-0 lead as the game headed to the end of the first stanza.
Ikey Tigers winger Ntokozo Makhaza gave the home fans hope as he scored a penalty after Maties were penalised for being offside, taking the score to 10-3.
Maties extended their lead to 15-3 with nine minutes left, courtesy of a try by loosehead prop Vernon Matongo.
The Ikeys retaliated in the final minutes when Jonathan Roche scored a try, and Makhaza converted.
Elsewhere, the NWU Eagles continued on their unbeaten start to this year’s competition with a dominant 49-15 victory against UWC at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom.
There was more misery for UJ, who slumped to their second consecutive loss when they went down 34-31 to the visiting Shimlas at in Joburg.
Wits fought back from a half-time deficit to secure their second victory of the season when they beat CUT 34-17 in front of an excited home crowd also in Johannesburg.
