Maties triumph over archrivals Tukkies in Varsity Cup 3rd round
Maties 31 (15) – Tuks 24 (6)
Maties survived a second-half comeback by UP-Tuks to record a vital win at Loftus Versfeld.
The North-South clash is characterised by a no-inch-given attitude and this meeting between the two most successful teams in the competition was no different as the heavyweights sussed each other out.
Initially, penalty goals ruled the day as UP-Tuks fullback Zander du Plessis slotted one either side of his opposite number Christopher Schreuder.
It would take 33 minutes for the first try to be scored as the Maroon Machine were awarded a penalty try after a dominant scrum, before wing Munier Hartzenberg snatched a perfectly-timed cross-kick to flop over the chalk.
Hartzenberg’s try was a textbook example of why it’s important to play until the whistle as Schreuder’s penalty attempt had struck the upright before being collected by FNB Maties and recycled for Schreuder to set up the kick that led to the five-pointer.
The second half started off rather scrappily as both teams had their efforts thwarted by unforced errors and had to settle for a penalty apiece.
Maties scrumhalf Bobby Alexander then ran a fantastic support line to collect Hartzenberg’s final pass en route to scoring a scintillating point-of-origin try.
The Stripe Generation finally managed to score their opening try in 58th minute as flank Hanru Sirgel was on hand to collect a stolen ball, before replacement scrumhalf Johan Mulder picked and dived for his five-pointer seven minutes later.
Considering the intensity of the clash, it’s no surprise that the final points were delivered by the boots of Du Plessis and Schreuder respectively as FNB Maties snuck home with the four-point win.
FNB Player That Rocks: Simon Miller (FNB Maties)
Scorers:
UP-Tuks – Tries: Hanru Sirgel, Johan Mulder. Conversion: Zander du Plessis. Penalties: Du Plessis (4).
Maties – Tries: Penalty try, Munier Hartzenberg, Bobby Alexander (1×7). Penalties: Schreuder (4).
The teams for round 4 of the Varsity Cup on Monday with two Round 5 matches at Tuks Stadium:
- FNB UCT Ikeys v FNB CUT Ixis (17:00)
- FNB UWC v FNB UP-Tuks (19:00)
The remaining three matches of the round will take place on Tuesday – Freedom Day – also at Tuks Stadium:
- FNB UJ v FNB UFS Shimlas (15:00)
- FNB Wits v FNB Madibaz (17:00)
- FNB Maties vs FNB NWU Eagles (19:00)
Team Pld W D L PD BP Pts
1 FNB UCT Ikeys 4 4 0 0 83 3 19
2 FNB CUT 4 4 0 0 84 2 18
3 FNB UP Tuks 4 3 0 1 62 3 15
4 FNB NWU Eagles 4 3 0 1 24 15
5 FNB Maties 4 3 0 1 29 2 14
