Shimlas stun Tuks to sneak into semis
Yesterday at 01:02 AM
Shimlas ambushed Tuks in Pretoria on Monday night to sneak into the semi-finals as the league phase of the 2025 Varsity Cup ended with a bang.
The defending champions scored six tries in a 48-35 victory over Tuks. The bonus point boosted Shimlas beyond the reach of the NWU Eagles, who finished fifth and thus failed to advance to the playoffs despite demolishing the Ixias with 16 tries in a 117-19 win in Potchefstroom.
Maties cruised past winless Wits to claim top spot on the log and a home semi-final. Wits are automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield next season.
UCT Ikeys won 49-31 at UJ to finish third, consigning the Orange Army to a promotion-relegation playoff against Madibaz on 5 May.
Tuks took second place and will host the Ikeys in the first semi-final while log leaders Maties welcome Shimlas to Stellenbosch.
Semi-finals:
Tuks vs UCT, 7 April, 4.45pm at Tuks Stadium
Maties vs Shimlas, 7 April, 7pm at Danie Craven Stadium.
Round 7 results:
UJ 31-49 UCT Ikeys
SCORERS:
UJ: 31 (19)
Tries: Sifiso Dlamini, Coun-lee Koekman, Berwyn Bosch, Reuven Ferreira, Bian Janse Van Rensburg.
UCT Ikeys: 49 (20)
Tries: Rethabile Louw, Danio Botha, Ntokozo Makhaza, Alex Vermeulen, Monray Daars.
Big moments, big players! Shake and bake from Ntokozo Makhaza for the @ikeytigers.
#RugbyThatRocks#NxtLevelpic.twitter.com/Mbw2kJEML6— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) March 31, 2025
NWU Eagles 117-19 CUT
SCORERS
Eagles: 117 (52)
Tries: Luan Van Der Walt (3), Naiden Jaarts (2), Tian Van Zyl (2), Chyle Van Zyl (2), Mathew Fortuin (2), Ntobeko Shezi, Indiphile Tyeda, Guhan du Bois, Sean Roulston, Sanele Zungu.
CUT: 19 (12)
Tries: Zachery Bester, Kevin Strydom, Raydon Swartbooi.
Wits 7-47 Maties
SCORERS
Wits: 7 (0)
Tries: Risima Khosa.
Maties: 47 (21)
Tries: CJ Erasmus (3), Grant De Jager (2), Mckyle Volmoer, Carel van der Merwe.
Tuks 35-48 UFS Shimlas
SCORERS
UP-Tuks: 35 (7)
Tries: Edwin Till, Haydn Kemp, Bayanda Ngubane (2), Ambesa Zenzile.
UFS Shimlas: 48 (23)
Tries: Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Ben Pitout, Siviwe Zondani, Nkoka Ngobe, Kirwin du Preez, Ramon Uys.
The bomb from Giddy, the lucky bounce and Kirwin Du Preez with the stinky leg!@UFSweb playing with intent!#NxtLevel#RugbyThatRockspic.twitter.com/gtzVO3ldwN
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) March 31, 2025
Photo: Twitter/@VarsityCup
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