Maties bounced back from an opening-round defeat to take the Cape derby bragging rights, while defending Varsity Cup champions NWU Eagles continued their unbeaten start.

It was Maties who walked away smiling after a gutsy 15-10 win over UCT Ikeys at the Green Mile in Cape Town.

Facing heavy wind, the Ikey Tigers fought hard to stop the Maties pack who held the home side tight in their 22-metre area. Both sides showed gutsy performances as the wind continued to blow at the Green Mile, something that seemed to be the difference on the field with no scores to show after 15 minutes of play. 

Seven minutes before half-time, the Maroon Machine finally took advantage as winger Matthew Emile van Schalkwyk ran through the Tigers’ wall to dive under the poles. The try came just a few minutes after flyhalf Juan Mostert slotted a penalty. 

The Cape Winelands side took a comfortable 10-0 lead as the game headed to the end of the first stanza. 

Ikey Tigers winger Ntokozo Makhaza gave the home fans hope as he scored a penalty after Maties were penalised for being offside, taking the score to 10-3. 

Maties extended their lead to 15-3 with nine minutes left courtesy of a try by loosehead prop Vernon Matongo. 

The Ikeys retaliated in the final minutes when Jonathan Roche scored a try and Makhaza converted.
Maties 15 (10) – Tries: Matthew Emile van Schalkwyk, Vernon Matongo. Conversions: Juan Mostert. Penalties: Juan Mostert.
UCT Ikeys 10 (0) – Tries: Jonathan Roche. Conversions: Ntokozo Makhaza. Penalties: Ntokozo Makhaza.
Player That Rocks: Mckyle Volmoer (Maties).
NWU Eagles continued on their unbeaten start to this year’s competition with a dominant performance earning a 49-15 win against UWC at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom.
The home side showed dominance with tries by Keano Windvogel and Calvin Clack. The Eagles’ tight-head prop Ntobeko Shezi extended the lead for his side with a try with Zinedine Robinson converting to put them 30-0 in the lead at half-time.
Late tries by Carel Van Der Verwe and Ruben Swanepoel for UWC made up some ground. But NWU wasn’t done yet as Windvogel and Marvelous Mashimbyi crossed the try line again to seal an emphatic victory at home.

NWU 49 (30) – Tries: Calvin Clack, Keano Windvogel (2), Ntobeko Shezi, Shaun-Christian Baxter (2). Marvelous Mashimbyi. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (5), Charles Williams.
UWC 15 (0) – Tries: Emile Silvis, Carel Van Der Merwe, Ruben Swanepoel.
Player That Rocks: Keano Windvogel (FNB NWU).

UJ fell to their second consecutive loss when they went down 34-31 to the visiting UFS Shimlas at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg.

The game was interrupted in the 11th minute when heavy rain forced the players off the field.

The 64th minute was the turning point of the game when Siyambuka Ningiza went over the try line to give Shimlas the lead. A try by Siviwe Zondani ensured the visitors walked away with maximum points.  

The UJ bench was on the edge of their seats as Benjamin Moya’s try closed out the game, ensuring they got a bonus point in defeat. 

UJ 31 (12) – Tries: Marius Coetzee, Prince Nkabinde (2), Likhona Finca, Benjamin Moya. Conversions: Rowan Malgas (2).
UFS SHIMLAS 34 (15) – Tries: Michael Annies, Pierre Raymond Uys, Frank Dos Reis, Siyambuka Ningiza, Siviwe Zondani. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (2).  Player That Rocks: Prince Nkabinde (FNB UJ)  .

Wits fought back from a half-time deficit to score their second victory of the season when they beat CUT 34-17 in front of an excited home crowd in Johannesburg.

The hosts, after making a few attempts, were finally rewarded with fullback Setshaba Mokoena slotting a penalty to make it 3-8. Smith added two more penalties for CUT before Wits’ captain fantastic Cal Smid crossed over for a try. The men from the Free State led 14-8 at half-time.  

The second half saw a different Wits running onto the pitch, scoring four tries in the process with Kabelo Mokhethi, Marno Grobbelaar, Kivon Chirwa and Setshaba Mokoena crossing the try line.  

CUT looked somewhat stunned, failing to keep the Witsies at bay. The visitors did however manage to add three points to their tally, through the boot of Smith.  

WITS 34 (8) – Tries: Cal Smid, Kabelo Mokhethi, Marno Grobbelaar, Kivon Chirwa, Setshaba Mokoena. Conversions: Setshaba Mokoena (3). Penalties: Setshaba Mokoena
CUT 17 (14) – Tries: Zachery Bester. Penalties: Juan Smith (3).
Player That Rocks: George Devenish (FNB Wits).

Photo: James Cameron Heron/VARSITY SPORTS

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