UWC go top of the charts
Albeit temporary – depending on WSU’s results in the upcoming week – the Cape Town side's win has placed pressure on second-placed WSU – who have a game in hand.
UWC have had a good start to the season thus far – with three wins and a loss on the road.
Their Cape Town counterparts, CPUT secured a 49-21 victory against UKZN. CPUT looked refreshed after their bye week and Malan Roode even bagged a hat-trick against a deflated UKZN side in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, Fort Hare travelled to Grahamstown and registered a 30-10 win against basement dwellers Rhodes.
We take a look at Monday's action!
CPUT 49-21 UKZN
It started off evenly poised as both teams put on braved attacks which ensured the home side to a narrow 13-8 lead after 20 minutes.
However, CPUT soon took control of proceedings as tries by Malan Roode, Sven Brundyn and Colin April extended the lead.
Just before the interval, UKZN managed to pull one back to hand them a more flattering scoreline of 16-34.
CPUT continued their dominance in the second half. After six minutes of relentless pressure on UKZN's defence, Roode sealed his hat-trick, 42-16.
Despite being left behind, UKZN refused to give up and were finally rewarded with a try thanks to Mpumalanga Monareng on the hour mark.
However, the celebrations were brief as CPUT's Butsha Mputa's try put the final nail in the coffin and sealed his side's victory.
The scorers:
For CPUT:
Tries: Roode 3, Brundyn, April, Mputa,
Cons: Brinkhuis 4
For UKZN
Tries: Schoor, Mosiea, Monareng
Cons: Schoor 2
Referee: Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Local
UWC 30-10 TUT
The home team were the first on the board after a successful penalty by Aiden Cupido, 2-0.
Soon UWC extended the lead courtesy of Michaine Fick's try. Calm Cupido stepped up and added the extras to give UWC a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes of play.
With 30 minutes on the clock, the home team were forced to continue with 14 men as Curtley Thomas was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Finally, TUT broke their duck with a successful penalty, 2-10.
Minutes later, Cupido's boot restored the 10-point deficit with the penalty, 12-2 to UWC. The home team also added an additional try, 17-2.
As the final quarter of the match approached, TUT scored their first try of the match. Vumisani visited the chalk for his side to trail 10-17.
Eventually, the home team had the final say thanks to a try by Kurt-Lee Arendse, despite Cupido's missed conversion UWC ended the match on a good note.
The Scorers:
For UWC:
Tries: Fick, TBC 2, Arendse
Cons: Cupido 2
Pens: Cupido 2
For TUT:
Try: Vumisani
Con: TBC
Pen: TBC
Yellow Card: Curtley Thomas (UWC, 30)
Referee: Mpho Matsaung
Assistant referees: Local
Rhodes 10-30 UFH
Rhodes suffered their fourth defeat in the tournament and within five minutes of play were already chasing the game as a try by UFH handed the visitors a 5-0 lead.
Despite a horrendous start, the home team’s defence was solid and kept the UFH's attack at bay for the rest of the first half, which made sure UFH only took a narrow 5-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, Rhodes came out with renewed vigour and on 45 minutes took a narrow 8-5 lead after a converted try. Soon the home team extended their lead with a penalty, 10-5.
Rhodes' lead seemed to fuel UFH's attack. The visitors regrouped and went on to score three unanswered tries to seal the victory.
The scorers:
For Rhodes: TBC
For UFH: TBC
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: Local
