Maties and NWU win first round of Varsity Cup
UJ and Wits tumble in opening Varsity Cup matches.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) had an uphill battle against North-West University (NWU) in the opening match of the FNB Varsity Cup on February 4.
FNB UJ could not find enough answers for the strong FNB NWU team to overcome their strength in all facets of play. FNB NWU withstood FNB UJ and the rain as they emerged victorious in the 2019 season opener, winning 23-8.
FNB NWU came out of the blocks fast and scored an early try which left the home team shell-shocked after five minutes and the FNB NWU with a 7-0 lead. Captain Louis van der Westhuizen dotted down for the try with Schalk Hugo making sure with the conversion. The early dominance by FNB NWU grew even stronger when Jack Hart was shown a yellow card and the home team found themselves 14-0 down, with a lovely worked try by the backline, which was scored by Pienaar van Niekerk.
FNB NWU was by far the better team heading into the first strategic break after 20 minutes. The remainder of the first half saw FNB NWU defend their try line exceptionally with fly half Chunier van Rooyen, the standout player from the backline. He was the chief architect in the attacking moves and was the guardian in defence as the Potch team held on for a 14-0 lead at half-time.
The partisan home crowd cheered the Orange Army on at the start of the second half and the home team hit their first points courtesy of a penalty from Jeanluc Cilliers. The home team, spurred on by the crowd, would eventually get their first try of the match as the team attacked phase after phase and saw the mercurial Cyprian Nkomo touch down. The resulting conversion was missed and the score was 8-14.
However, FNB NWU silenced the home team as winger Lungelo Gosa further extended the lead. The match was 23-8 for FNB NWU with 20 minutes to go. Play was then halted by potential lightning and thunder hovering over the UJ Stadium. The match officials evaluated the weather and came to the decision to postpone the match. The score was 23-8 to FNB NWU with 13 minutes left to play.
Varsity Cup spoke to the official match referee, who confirmed the match was over and FNB NWU won 23-8.
Chait in charge as FNB Maties slay FNB Wits
In the other Varsity Cup match where another Johannesburg team, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) was involved, the metronomic boot of Stellenbosch University (Maties) fly half Jordan Chait proved to be the key as his team battled past a fierce FNB Wits team at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday night.
In a performance which was more power than pace, the platform was laid by the FNB Maties heavies. Hooker HJ Luus crossed twice, once in each half, and owes his fellow forwards a beer or two for their commitment and hard work.
The visitors stunned the passionate home crowd when FNB Wits scrum half Krappies van den Berg opened the scoring. Full back Christian Humphries added the extras and FNB Maties had to quickly respond, which they did when Luus went over before Chait drew them level with his first kick of the match.
Nippy scrum half Logan Boonzaaier was on the receiving end of a movement which saw veteran winger Duncan Saal show why he was named the Back That Rocks in 2018 on the way to a seven-point try. Unfortunately for the 17 000 fans in attendance, this was the last try that had any running involved, as the two teams slugged it out like two heavyweight boxers.
Hooker CJ Conradie was on the receiving end of some slick passing and went over in the corner to draw FNB Wits within two points, and at 14-12 they knew they had a chance. Chait concluded the first half, scoring with a penalty, and at 17-12 the game was still very much in the balance.
The FNB Maties earned a penalty to open their account after the break and Chait obliged with another beautiful kick. Luus grabbed his brace shortly thereafter as the men in maroon started rumbling, but credit to the visitors from Johannesburg, who never gave an inch on defence. The FNB Wits team didn’t allow the FNB Maties to get out of third gear and will definitively be in the running come the business end of the season. Chait converted the try by Luus and kicked another penalty to take the score to 30-12.
Conrade emulated his opposition hooker, but at 30-17 the victory remained elusive. Chait kicked a final penalty to make the score 33-17 and after some resolute defence on their own goal line, the FNB Maties sent the visitors home with nothing to show for their 80-minute effort.
FNB Maties next face local rivals the University of Cape Town (UCT) at the Green Mile while FNB Wits host Central University of Technology (CUT) in Johannesburg.
In the other matches, FNB UCT beat the University of Western Cape (UWC) in a seesaw battle.
FNB UCT hosted newcomers FNB UWC at the Green Mile for the opening FNB Varsity Cup match in a tense tug of war, with FNB UCT securing a 32-24 win.
The University of Pretoria (Tuks) were made to work hard for their 23-6 (half-time 8-3) victory against FNB CUT in their round one clash of the Varsity Cup at the Tuks Rugby Stadium on Monday evening.
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