Tuks bounce back with Bloem rout
Yesterday at 03:15 AM
WRAP: It was an exciting day on Monday in Varsity Cup's Round Four.
NWU Eagles stunned the defending champions UFS Shimlas at Fanie Du Toit Sports Ground.
The UP-Tuks ran riot over CUT in Bloemfontein, while UCT Ikeys scored 10 tries in their rout of Wits at Green Mile.
The round also saw a victory for Maties over UJ in Johannesburg.
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CUT 26-63 UP-Tuks
The UP-Tuks ran riot in the second half at CUT Park in Bloemfontein on Monday night as they return to winning ways in the Varsity Cup by defeating the CUT 63-26.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with the lead changing hands multiple times. However, in the second stanza, the visitors turned on the style to claim a convincing win against the team that had beaten them in Bloemfontein two years ago.
UP-Tuks were the first to get on the scoreboard following a massive 22m gain from a line-out maul, which resulted in CUT collapsing and left the referee with no option but to award a penalty try. Their joy was short-lived, though, as Ixias hooker Tokelo Ntaopane powered over for a converted try just minutes later, also from a line-out maul after a penalty.
Wing Munashe Dukuswa then put UP-Tuks back in the lead by scoring in the corner, but CUT responded once again, with Clive Hartzenberg flying over for a point-of-origin try, sparked by Adielson Gouveia deep in their own half. On the stroke of half-time, the Tuks hooker crossed the whitewash to put the team from the capital city ahead 19-14 at the break.
The second half opened up significantly, and in the early exchanges, both Edwin Till and Dukuswa completed their respective braces, stretching the lead to 17 points. While Leon Franzsen and Jordan Davids managed to score for the hosts, it was one-way traffic from the five-time champions - Chad-Lee Valentine, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, and Lilitha Matsiliza all adding their names to the scoresheet.
The Ixias put up a valiant fight, but they simply didn't have enough to stop UP-Tuks from exacting revenge.
SCORERS
CUT:
Tries: Ntaopane, Hartzenberg (point-of-origin), Franzsen, Davids
Cons: Malan 2, Gouveia
UP-Tuks:
Tries: Penalty try, Dukuswa 2, Till 2, O'Connell (point-of-origin), Valentine, Janse van Rensburg (point-of-origin), Matsiliza
Cons: Wentzel 2, Burger 2
Player that Rocks: Haydn Kemp (UP-Tuks)
TEAMS
CUT: 15 Devinto Vergotine, 14 Adielson Gouveia, 13 Rorisang Masoeu, 12 Liam Prinsloo, 11 Clive Hartzenberg, 10 Matthys Malan, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 8 Francois Bester (captain), 7 Janko Cloete, 6 JT Van Der Walt, 5 Kevin Strydom, 4 Asekho Marubelela, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 2 Tokelo Ntaopane, 1 Jan-Hendrik Bessenger.
UP-Tuks: 15 Ambesa Zenzile, 14 Munashe Dukuswa, 13 Tharquinn Manuel, 12 Kobus Janse van Rensburg, 11 Andile Myeni, 10 JP Wentzel, 9 Daimon O'Connell, 8 Dillon Smith (captain), 7 Haydn Kemp, 6 Kamohelo Tlome, 5 David Engongo, 4 JW Mare, 3 Jayd Austin, 2 Edwin Till, 1 MJ Nel.
Referee: Dylen November
TMO: AJ Jacobs
NWU Eagles 59-14 UFS Shimlas
NWU Eagles secured their second consecutive victory with a dominant performance against Varsity Cup defending champions UFS Shimlas at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground.
The Eagles got off to a strong start, with Stehan Heymans slotting a penalty in the third minute. However, they spent the next 15 minutes under pressure as Shimlas applied relentless attacks.
They extended their lead when Nico Liversage crossed the try line after a well-timed offload from Matthew Fortuin, with Heymans successfully adding the conversion. Just before half-time, Ricardo Fourie's try in the 37th minute secured a commanding 15-0 advantage for the home side.
The Eagles continued their dominance early in the second half, extending their lead to 22-0 in the 47th minute when Guhan Du Bois dotted down after a patient attacking buildup, finishing off an offload from Stephan Krugel. Heymans added the conversion. Five minutes later, Tian van Zyl sprinted down the wing to score after receiving a well-timed offload from Naiden Jaarts, with Heymans once again slotting the extra points to make it 29-0.
Shimlas finally responded in the 55th minute when Nkoka Ngobe powered through the Eagles' defence from close range to score, and Tiaan Kriek converted, narrowing the gap to 29-7.
The Eagles continued their relentless attack in the 66th minute when Isrome Phatudi crossed the try line after a brilliant solo run from Schalk Van Schalkwyk, extending the lead to 36-7.
Just three minutes later, Van Schalkwyk capitalized on a quick turnover to score his try, with Stehan Heymans adding the conversion to make it 43-7. The Eagles struck again in the 71st minute when van der Walt intercepted the ball in his half and sprinted to the try line, with Heymans once again slotting the extra points for a commanding 52-7 lead.
Shimlas managed to hit back in the 73rd minute as Liam Shamburg powered through the Eagles' defense to score, narrowing the gap to 52-14. However, the home side had the final say when Indiphile Tyeda raced down the wing to add another try in the 75th minute, with Heymans converting to seal a dominant 59-14 victory for NWU.
SCORERS
NWU Eagles:
Tries: Liversage, Fourie, Du Bois, Van Zyl, Van Schalkwyk, Tyeda, Phatudi, Van der Walt
Cons: Heymans 6
UFS Shimlas
Tries: Ngobe
Con: Kriek
Player that Rocks: Luan van der Walt (NWU Eagles)
TEAMS
NWU Eagles: 15 Luan Van der Walt, 14 Naiden Jaarts, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 12 Nico Liversage, 11 Indiphile Tyeda, 10 Stehan Heymans, 9 Sanele Zungu, 8 Guhan Du Bois, 7 Tian Van Zyl, 6 Ricardo Fourie, 5 Stephan Krugel (captain), 4 Tsepo Tlaka, 3 Ntobeko Shezi, 2 Chyle Van Zyl, 1 Alethwa Buthelezi.
UFS Shimlas: 15 Regan Izaks, 14 Kirwin du Preez, 13 Nkoka Ngobe (captain), 12 Alwich van der Linde, 11 Lilitha Lunqe, 10 Tiaan Kriek, 9 Hlumelo Klaas, 8 Fano Linde, 7 Liam Shamburg, 6 Marno Stopforth, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 Ben Pitout, 2 Vice Hofmeyer, 1 Ntokozo Hlope.
Referee: Hernus Coetzee
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys
UJ 7-25 Maties
UJ's search for their first win of the Varsity Cup 2025 season continued as they fell short in Round Four against Maties, losing 7-25 in a hard-fought encounter.
Maties flank Ryan Manuel broke the deadlock, crossing over for the visitors first try. Their captain, Ezekiel Ngobeni, soon followed suit, adding another try to put his team firmly in control.
UJ had opportunities to respond but missed crucial chances to narrow the deficit, unable to capitalise on Maties' failed conversion attempts. As the Stellenbosch based side's lead expanded, UJ struggled to make any headway, with Maties' defense proving to be strong. Time and again, UJ pushed for the line, only to fall short in the final meters.
The home side finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a penalty try, but it wasn't enough to get over Maties' dominance.
In a dramatic turn of events, Maties' Fortune Mpofu was initially sent to the sin bin, and upon his return to the field, he barely had time to settle before being sent off again after being struck in the eye.
With this loss, UJ's winless run in the competition continued, while Maties showed their clinical edge, keeping their Varsity Cup campaign on track.
SCORERS
UJ
Try: Penalty try
Con: Penalty try does not require a conversion
Maties
Tries: Manuel, Ngobeni, Van der Merwe, Combrink
Con: Van Heerden Smith
Pen: Van Heerden Smith
Player that Rocks: Ezekiel Ngobeni (Maties)
TEAMS
UJ: 15 Michali Damon, 14 Okwan Oavane, 13 Sifiso Dlamini, 12 Reuven Ferreira, 11 Ughan Africa, 10 Oela Blaauw, 9 Berwyn Bosch, 8 Dylan Viljoen, 7 Muzuva Gutu, 6 Siyemukela Ndlovu (captain), 5 Josh Toit, 4 Jaden Baillie, 3 Ali Gqaza, 2 Ryan Marimo, 1 Damian Baker.
Maties: 15 Elridge Jack, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Ryan Manuel, 12 Grant de Jager, 11 Dylan Miller, 10 Christaan van Heerden Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni (captain), 8 Ethan Snyman, 7 Luan Botha, 6 Fortune Mpofu, 5 Carel van der Merwe, 4 Zuko Poswa, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 CJ Erasmus, 1 Jason Johnson.
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
UCT Ikeys 73-17 Wits
UCT Ikeys delivered a scintillating first half performance to thrash Wits 73 -17 at the Green Mile. The home side needed to be solid at the back in the early exchanges with Wits starting brightest.
It took just 10 minutes for the opening try of the game, which was scored by Ikey's captain, Keagan Blanckenberg. The Ikeys were relentless in the first half, and they ran in three tries inside the opening 20 minutes which was made a bit easier by Tirhani Masondo's yellow card after 18 minutes.
By the 27th minute UCT already secured a bonus point as they ran in six first half tries to go 45-0 up at the break.
The second period continued in the same fashion as UCT dotted down four minutes after the restart. The away team responded a minute later but the mountain was too big for Wits to climb.
The visitors refused to lie down despite the scoreboard constantly ticking in favour of UCT. Substitutions may have messed with the Ikeys' momentum as they ended up conceding a total of three ties by the final whistle. UCT will however be happy with the fact they ran in ten tries in a 56-point drubbing of Wits.
SCORERS
UCT Ikeys
Tries: Rethabile Louw 2, Keagan Blanckenberg, Duran Koevort, Ntokozo Makhaza, Asad Moos, Thomas Nel 2, Aidan Norris, Aden Da Costa
Cons: Makhaza 6, Vermeulen
Pen: Makhaza
Wits
Tries: Lindani Dweba, Kevin Chirwa, Penalty triy
Con: Penalty try does not require a conversion
Player that Rocks: Keagan Blanckenberg (UCT Ikeys)
TEAMS
UTC Ikeys: 15 Duran Rayn Koevort, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Kian Davis, 12 Luke Burger, 11 Ntokozo Makhaza, 10 Alex Vermeulen, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Aidan Norris, 7 Connor Jack Gordon, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Danio Botha, 4 Enos Ndiao, 3 Bryan le Roux, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg (captain), 1 Matthew Beckett.
Wits: 1 15 Lindani Dweba, 14 Ngia Selengbe, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 12 Tirhani Masondo, 11 Kevon Chirwa, 10 Setshaba Mokoena (captain), 9 Drew Bennet, 8 Thomas Beling, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Joshua van Vreden, 5 Christopher Kachungunu, 4 Hayden Munnery, 3 Ricardo Brandao, 2 Justin Amos, Dagan Meuwese.
Referee: Sean Muller
Source: @varsitycup
