Defending champs Tuks suffer another defeat

UP-Tuks travelled to Stellenbosch to take on the Maties, however, had to settle for a 16-24 defeat.

The side started in stellar form but in the second-half, their performance was dreadful as they failed to score any points.

CUT Ixias made history by claiming their second-ever Varsity Cup win, with a  narrow 38-37 win over NMMU-Madibaz.

Shimlas recorded a comfortable 44-24 win over Wits at Shimla Park, while UCT-Ikeys secured a hard-fought 18-15 win over NWU-Pukke in Cape Town.

All the scores and scorers!

Maties 24-16 Tuks

Tuks were the first to open the score after a successful Tinus de Beer penalty in the 19th minute. The flyhalf went onto to add another two penalties which handed Tuks a 9-7 lead after Maties were awarded a penalty try.

Both teams were desperate to take the advantage at the break and after a try a-piece, it was the visitors who took the narrow 16-14 lead at the break.

It was all Maties in the second half. The hosts shifted the game's momentum in their favour with two tries for a 21-16 lead as the clock hit the hour mark.

Tuks were eager to get back in the game and started to attack with more urgency. However, the hosts ended the game in the driving seat with a marvellous try for an epic win at the Danie Craven.

The scorers:

For Maties:

Tries: Johan Momsen; Chris Massyn

Cons: Chris Smith 2

Pen: Chris Smith

For Tuks:    

Try: Willem Strydom

Con: Tinus de Beer

Pens: Tinus de Beer 3

Teams

Maties: 15 Reinhardt Fortuin, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Chippie Oelofse (captain)

Replacements: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Mzo Buthelezi, 19 Chris Massyn, 20 Stefan Streicher, 21 Logan Boonzaaier, 22 Francois Myburgh, 23 Munier Hartzenberg

Tuks: 15 Willem Strydom, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Toko Seerane, 12 Erich Cronje, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Theo Maree, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Denzel Hill (captain), 6 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1Andrew Beerwinkel

Replacements: 16 Cornelius Els, 17 Mashao Mukhari, 18 Marius Verwey, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Carlo Engelbrecht, 21 Divan Rossouw, 22 Tyler Fisher, 23 Wesley Adonis

CUT-Ixias 38-37 NMMU-Madibaz

Madibaz took an early lead courtesy of a penalty by Simon Bolze and a Gerrit Huisamen try.

Heinrich Bitzi got the hosts on the scoreboard with a penalty, but Henry Brown extended Madibaz’s lead with a try after the first quarter of the match.  

The visitors took a 22-15 to the lockers.

With a comfortable lead, Madibaz took their foot off the gas which handed the hosts a crucial platform to manufacture a comeback.

Tiaan Liebenberg's troops scored two quick tries and took the lead after 50 minutes of play.

In the last 10 minutes of the match, drama unfolded. Madibaz scored a late try,  however, a dreaded missed conversion handed the win to CUT.

The scorers:

For CUT:

Tries: Tiaan Erasmus 2, Stefan van Schalkwyk, Rayno Nel, LP Heymans

Cons: Heinrich Bitzi 4

Pen: Bitzi

For Madibaz:

Tries: Gerrit Huisamen 2, Henry Brown, Wynand Grassmann, Jordan Koekemoer

Cons: Simon Bolze 2

Pens: Bolze 2

Teams

CUT: 15 Dimitrio Tieties, 14 Masego Toolo, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Heinrich Bitzi, 11 Dean Jacobs, 10 Denver Kleu, 9 Ruben Heymans, 8 Gerhardus Nel, 7 Rayno Nel (captain), 6 Ruan Smit, 5 Brendon Fortuin, 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Stefan van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster

Replacements: 16 Johannes Terblanche, 17 Raynard Esterhuizen, 18 LW Viljoen, 19 Isiah Bila, 20 Arne van Rensburg, 21 Tiisetso Madonsela, 22 Karabo Maqeba, 23 Johannes Nel

Madibaz: 15 Michael Botha, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Riaan Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Simon Bolze, 9 Lovu Claassen, 8 Justin Hollis, 7 Wynand Grassman, 6 Henry Brown, 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Luyolo Dapula, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Jedwyn Harty, 1 Nicolas Roebeck

Replacements: 16 JP Jamieson, 17 Tembelihle Yase, 18 Similile Qinela, 19 Robert Izaks, 20 Jayson Reinecke, 21 Sibusiso Ngcokovane, 22 Henrique Olivier, 23 Jordan Koekemoer.

Shimlas 44-24 WITS

Shimlas crossed the try line first in the seventh minute when flyhalf Nicolaas Naude scored and converted his own try for a 7-0 lead. Wits answered with a clinical try in the 11th minute as hooker Cecil Conradie went over for a five-pointer to trail 5-7.

Wits scored their second try thanks to wing Kasende Kapepula. Christiaan Humpries added the extras for the 12-7 lead.

Just before the break, the hosts levelled matters with a try by Janco Cloete.

As the second half commenced Shimlas took full control. They took a 30-12 lead after centre Sango Xamleshe and lock Henk Pretorius both got their names on the scoresheet.

Wits tried to come back in the game, but the hosts were just too strong as their stretched the lead to 35-17 on the hour mark.

Before the final whistle, Shimlas put the final nails in the coffin when flank Menzi Nhlabathi crossed the try line for the comfortable victory.

The scorers:

For Shimlas:

Tries: Nicolaas Naude 2 Janco Cloete, Sango Xamleshe, Henk Pretorius, Menzi Nhlabathi

Cons: Nicolaas Naude 4

For Wits: 24

Tries: Cecil Conradie, Kasende Kapepula 2, Conor Brockschmidt

Cons: Christiaan Humpries 2

Teams

Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Athi Halom, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Sango Xamlashe, 11 Gideon Agenbag, 10 Nicholas Naude, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Albertus de Bod, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi, 6 Jan Cloete, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Gert Kotze (captain)

Replacements: 16 JC Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Louis Cloete, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Raymond Woest, 20 Christoffel Roelofse, 21 Zinedene Booysen, 22 Ayabonga Oliphant, 23 Tiaan Schutte

Wits: 15 Kwanele Ngema, 14 Manqoba Mbatha, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 Tyrone Green, 11 Daniel Kapepula, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Ayabulela Mdudi, 7 Jethro de Lange, 6 Justin Brandon, 5 Dawid Bodenstein, 4 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt (captain), 3 CJ Greeff, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams

Replacements: 16 Christopher Worthington, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Pascal Snyman, 19 Sipho Siboza, 20 Kyle Wesemann, 21 Adriaan van Blerk, 22 Lwazi Monakali, 23 Luyolo Qinela

UCT-Ikeys 18-15 NWU-Pukke

The hosts took a 5-0 lead when Nyasha Tarusenga scored the first try. But it wasn’t long before Schalk Hugo narrow the deficit with a penalty.

As the first stanza concluded the match unfolded into a scrappy affair with Pukke's Estehan Visagie and UCT's Duncan Saffy both sent to the sin bin.

In the second half, Ikeys continued with their attack and had a second try for a 12-3 lead.

With just minutes remaining on the clock, the visitors levelled matters after a Johan Retief scored a converted try to bring the score to 15-15.

In the dying minutes, UCT were awarded a penalty, which Lubbe slotted to hand his side victory and four valuable points.

The scorers:

For UCT:

Tries: Nyasha Tarusenga, Josh Moon

Con: Lohan Lubbe

Pens: Lohan Lubbe 2

For NWU:

Tries: Dean Stokes, Johan Retief

Con: Schalk Hugo

Pen: Schalk Hugo

Teams:

UCT-Ikeys: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Karl Martin, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Joel Smith, 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 Ashwyn Adams, 18 Ntokozo Khomo, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Deejee Putter, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Lohan Lubbe, 23 Suwilanji Chibale

NWU-Pukke: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Henko Marais, 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 Siphesihle Mngadi, 1 Matimu Manganyi

Replacements: 16 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theodore Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandile Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mathaba, 22 AK Nela, 23 Jimmy Mpailane