- Maties slip to 4th on Varsity Cup log

Tigers put knot in Maties’ tail

The FNB Player That Rocks Suleiman Hartzenberg scored two late tries as the FNB UCT Ikeys claimed a thrilling 44-27 victory over arch-rivals FNB Maties in the 500th FNB Varsity Cup match.

The big Cape derby – as well the historic occasion – certainly lived up to the hype. Despite cold and windy conditions on the Green Mile, both sides played the game at a lively tempo and dotted down for a point-of-origin try within the first 10 minutes.

From there, the Maties forwards began to impose themselves at the gainline. The hosts battled to cope with the physicality of the Maroon Machine and conceded penalty after penalty. Scrumhalf William Rose was shown a yellow card for poor discipline in the 13th minute.

Tighthead prop Vernon Matongo showed terrific skill and determination to finish a try shortly before half-time. A conversion and a subsequent penalty by fullback Nevaldo Fleurs ensured that the visitors went to the break with a 17-10 lead.

True to form, the Ikey Tigers came out firing in the second stanza. Tries by replacements Imad Khan and Mika Schubert kept them in the contest, as did the boot of fullback Duran Koervort.

Just when it appeared as if Maties might regain control, Hartzenberg received the ball in space and raced more than 50m to score a point-of-origin try. Koevort’s conversion propelled the hosts into an eight-point lead with eight minutes remaining. FNB Maties struggled to control possession in the dying stages. When UCT received one final opportunity, however, Hartzenberg accelerated past the exhausted defenders to score his second try and seal the result.

Varsity Cup Round 7 results and scorers:

FNB UWC 44 (28) – Tries: Aydon Topley, Haniel du Toit (2), Romuald Ntumba (1×7), Mauritz Swart (1×7), Nicholas Chipanje. Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (5).

FNB CUT Ixias 38 (5) – Tries: Matthew Sekele (1×7, 1×5). Jacquin van Wyk (1×7), Septimus Derkesen, Albertus Venter. Conversions: Floris Brand (3). Penalty: Brand.

FNB Player That Rocks: Nicholas Chipanje (FNB UWC)

FNB UCT Ikeys 44 (10) – Tries: Rihaz Fredericks (1×7), Imad Khan (1×7), Mika Schubert, Suleiman Hartzenberg (2×7). Conversions: Duran Koevort (4). Penalty: Koevort.

FNB Maties 27 (17) – Tries: Adriaan van der Bank (1×7), Vernon Matongo, Simon Miller. Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (2). Penalties: Fleurs (2).

FNB Player That Rocks: Suleiman Hartzenberg (FNB UCT Ikeys)

FNB UP-Tuks 39 (21) – Tries: Bernard van der Linde (1×7), Clyde Lewis (1×7), Kabelo Mokoena, Orateng Koikanyang. Conversions: Walter Visser (3). Penalties: Visser, Lewis (2).

FNB Wits 24 (17) – Tries: Dameon Venter, Setshaba Mokoena, Wian de Lange. Conversions: Chris Humphries (2), Keagan Lailvaux. Penalty: Humphries.

FNB Player That Rocks: Clyde Lewis (FNB UP-Tuks)

FNB NWU Eagles 61 (33) – Tries: Vernon Paulo, Pienaar van Niekerk (1×7), Gustav Erlank (1×7), Theunis Pretorius, Chris Vermaak (2), André Fouché, Tino Swanepoel (1×7). Conversions: Martin Venter (5), Nivan Petersen. Penalty: Venter.
FNB Madibaz 26 (12) – Tries: Kyle Cyster (1×7), Kholiwe Khonza, Jade Stoffels (1×7), Wayne Moss. Conversion: Stoffels.
FNB Player That Rocks: Pienaar van Niekerk (FNB NWU Eagles)

FNB UJ 26 (23) – Tries: Mpho Kubheka, Darnell Osuagwu, Musawenkosi Tshabalala (1×7). Conversions: Jonathan Viljoen (3). Penalty: Viljoen.

FNB UFS Shimlas 37 (16) – Tries: Zane Bester (2×7), Blaine Golden, Kwezi Dlamini, Jooste Nel. Conversions: Litha Nkula (4).

FNB Player That Rocks: George Lourens (FNB UFS Shimlas

Next Monday (4 April) Maties take on the Madibas on their home turf. The Stellenbosch team slipped down to fourth place on the log with 24 points after the defeat and having lost two of their 7 games. Top of the log is Shimlas (27), followed by Ikeys (26) and Tuks (25).