Ntokozo Makhaza kicked 17 points as UCT Ikey Tigers beat the NWU Eagles in a Varsity Cup cracker at a packed Fanie Du Toit Stadium on Monday night to book a second successive final.
Billed as underdogs against the defending champs, UCT produced a heroic display of attacking skill and defensive for a 32-18 victory in Potchefstroom.
The result set up a final against Shimlas, who stopped Maties in the first semi-final.
In a rematch of last week’s encounter and last year’s final, it was the Ikey Tigers who took the initiative against NWU.
Makhaza fired three penalties that took him past 250 Varsity Cup points and established him as the competition’s all-time record point scorer.
Flyhalf Zinedine Robinson slotted a lengthy drop goal for the hosts before loose forward Tian van Zyl crashed over for the first try. However, the Ikeys responded shortly after through fullback Duran Koevort to take a 14-8 lead into the break.
Koevort crossed the whitewash for his second shortly after the restart while Makhaza extended the lead with another penalty. Replacement scrumhalf Mpho Kubeka sniped and got the Eagles back into the game with a try in the corner cutting UCT’s lead to 22-13 with 20 minutes left to play.
Replacement lock Mika Schubert finished off a fantastic counter-attacking try for the Ikeys, but the Eagles continued to fight with replacement loose forward Calvin Clack grabbing their second try of the night in the final 10 minutes.
However, NWU’s hopes of a comeback were quickly squashed when Makhaza kicked his fifth penalty of the night to seal the win.
UCT now set their sights on next week’s final in Bloemfontein.
Photo: Tian du Preez/VARSITY SPORTS
The post Ikeys dethrone Varsity Cup champs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
