Maties: The 2018 Varsity Cup champions

The Danie Craven stadium was brought to its feet on Monday when Maties finally got the monkey off their back to clinched their fourth Varsity Cup trophy. It has taken seven years and three consecutive finals for the Maroon Machine to finally break their trophy drought.

Maties started their third consecutive final on a good note. The home team certainly were looking to catch NWU out wide and they did on numerous occasions but were let down by their composure in crucial areas inside NWU’s territory.

However, Maties were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 19th minute when referee AJ Jacobs awarded the home side a penalty try.  

FNB Maties extended their lead in the 31st minute thanks to a drop goal by Smith.

Nonetheless, it would be NWU who would have the last say of the first half as they cut down their deficit to three through via a Tiaan Bezuidenhout try. Schalk Hugo slotted the conversion and the visiting team went into the halftime break trailing 7-10.

Maties struck early in the second half. After the kickoff, NWU strung together a couple of phases before a looping pass was well read by wing Edwill van der Merwe who intercepted for a seven-point try. Smith added the extras for the 19-7.

Maties lock Johan Momsen extended the home side’s lead in the 53rd minute when he barged over from close range which proved to be the final nail in Pukke's coffin.

The Maroon Machine kept their shape and added two additional tries for the comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, CUT maintained their Varsity Cup Status with a 37-31 win over WSU in a promotion-relegation battle at the Danie Craven Stadium.

The two sides met to decide who would play in the Varsity Cup after WSU finished second on the overall table in the Varsity Shield, while CUT slumped to second last on the Varsity Cup log which saw them play in the promotion-relegation game.

All the scores and scorers!

Maties 40-7 NWU-Pukke

The scoreres

For Maties:

Tries: Edwill van der Merwe; Johan Momsen; Munier Hartzenberg; Ricky Nwagbara

Cons: Chris Smith 4

Drop goal: Chris Smith

For NWU:

Try: Tiaan Bezuidenhout

Con: Schalk Hugo

Maties: 15 Carlisle Nel, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Chris Massyn, 6 Johan van Niekerk, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Chippie Oelofse (C)

Replacements: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Piet-Louw Strauss, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Stefan Streicher, 21 Brandon Nel, 22 Munier Hartzenberg, 23 Jordan Chait

NWU:  15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Jimmy Mpailane, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout, 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Matimu Manganyi

Replacements: 16 Percy Mngadi, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theodore Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandile Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mbatha, 22 Henko Marais, 23 Justin Newman

CUT 37-31 WSU

The Scorers:

For CUT:

Tries: Breedt, Van Schalkwyk, Denver Kleu, Tiaan Erasmus

Cons: Dimitri Tieties 2, Denver Kleu 2

For WSU:

Tries: Mihlali Mosi 2, Maliviwe Simanga

Cons: Beauton Pholman 4

Pen: Xakwane Lusanda

CUT Ixias: 15 Dimitri Tieties 14 Masego Toolo, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Marnu Van Niekerk, 11 Erasmus Breedt, 10 Denver Klue, 9 Ruben De Haas, 8 Stefan Kruger, 7 Ruan Smit, 6 Johannes Terblanche, 5 Sylvester Makakole, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 3 Stefan Van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster

Replacements: 16 LW Viljoen, 17 Raynard Esterhuizen, 18 Henco Smit, 19 Thabo Chirwa, 20 Dian Dry, 21 Dean Jacobs, 22 Tiisetso Madonsela, 23 Karabo Maqeba

WSU: 15 Xakwane Lusanda, 14 Yamkela Nyembe, 13 Sinegugu Lituka, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11 Athenkosi Ndzenene, 10 Beauton Pholman, 9 Henrico Koester, 8 Chumani Mjacu, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 Wam Mbana, 5 Xolowethu Jantjie, 4 Bonginkosi Ngqushwa, 3 Phumlani Blaauw, 2 Maliviwe Simanga, 1 Masonwabe Ngcem

Replacements: 16 Masixole Gubeni, Thokozani, 17 Ziyinqaba Mhlauli, 18 Xolani Jacobs, 19 Mthandazo Gcumeni, 20 Anathi Shenxane, 21 Thembani Kori, 22 Tebogo Madigoe, 23 Khulekani Buthelezi

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