Late drama in Varsity Cup as semi-final spots decided
· The South African
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Varsity Cup Round 7 on Monday evening as the NWU Eagles staged an epic comeback from 39-20 down to beat the Ikey Tigers in the dying moments.
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In doing so, the Eagles secured a home semi-final and denied UCT the chance to defend their title.
Automatic relegation
Maties booked their place in the semi-finals with a 45-23 victory over the Ixias, a result that also confirmed Ixias’ automatic relegation to the Varsity Shield competition next season.
UP-Tuks remained top of the log with a dominant 51-22 victory over UJ, but the Orange Army still advance after staying in fourth on the log after Emeris closed out their season with a significant win over the Shimlas.
The semi-final fixtures will be confirmed in due course, but are scheduled to be played on Monday, 6 April.
UJ 22-51 UP-Tuks
It was a matured, well-orchestrated and calculated performance that sealed a 51-22 victory for UP-Tuks against UJ at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday.
The side from Pretoria laid the foundation in the first half after scoring tries while they restricted UJ to just two.
They started on the backfoot, however, after the hosts opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Tholithemba Sibisi on the left corner.
JT Kapank extended his side’s lead to 8-0 after slotting over a penalty just outside the halfway line.
Tuks hit back immediately after that, and they looked dangerous in attack. Winger, Andile Myeni linked up with Christiaan Volk who crashed over before Jacques Oberholzer crashed over to extend his side’s lead.
Both scores were point of origin tries, and Tuks were far from done. Obi added his name to the scoresheet before eighth-man Akhona Kunene barged over to see his side lead 32-15 at the break.
The second stanza was a completely different ball game. It was low scoring but produced a tactical battle and edge of the seat stuff.
The visitors extended their lead in the 56th minute through replacement scrumhalf, Akha Mjawule before UJ hit back after a well-worked team try which was finished off by Jeandre Uithaler.
Tuks scored two late tries through Dillon Smith and Munashe Dukuswa to seal the win.
Player of the Match: Divan du Toit (UP-Tuks)
CUT 23-45 Maties
Hooker, CJ Erasmus, was the hat-trick hero for Maties in Bloemfontein as they secured an invaluable 45-23 victory over CUT Ixias.
For the Ixias, the defeat brings a heartbreaking end to their Varsity Cup dream, as they are relegated after failing to register a single win throughout the campaign.
It didn’t take long for the five-time champions to get on the scoreboard at CUT Stadium, with Erasmus crashing over from a maul.
Shortly afterwards, flyhalf Christiaan van Heerden-Smith extended the lead when Maties won a heel against the head at a CUT scrum. He pounced on the loose ball to dot down for an unconverted try.
The Ixias responded with real intent. Hooker Malekela Malothane powered over from a maul to open their account, before flyhalf Devinto Vergotine sliced through to level matters. A penalty by Matthys Malan then edged the hosts into the lead.
As half-time approached, the momentum swung again. Maties nudged ahead with a penalty try before Louis Fourie produced a moment of magic, scoring a point-of-origin try straight from the restart to give the visitors a commanding 26-15 lead at the break.
The hosts came out firing in the second half. Malan added another penalty, and Hope Seyaga crossed from a lineout move to close the gap to just three points, setting up a tense contest.
But once the Maroon Machine found their rhythm, they shifted through the gears. Erasmus peeled off the back of a maul to complete his brace on the hour mark, restoring some breathing room for Maties. Eight minutes later, he was at it again, powering over from yet another dominant maul to seal his hat-trick and put the result beyond doubt.
On the stroke of full-time, replacement tighthead prop Ammaar Burton added the finishing touches after sustained pressure, with fullback Elridge Jack slotting the conversion to compound the Ixias’ misery.
Maties now march confidently into the semi-finals, while for the Ixias it’s a season to forget as they drop down to the Varsity Shield following their relegation.
Player of the Match: Tsebano Stemer (CUT)
NWU Eagles 56-53 UCT Ikeys
A dramatic 56-53 victory over UCT Ikeys at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground to secure the NWU Eagles a crucial home semi-final, capping one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season.
What looked like a certain defeat at half-time turned into a powerful statement from the Purple Army, who overturned a 39-20 deficit in front of a charged Potchefstroom crowd.
UCT dominated the opening half, running in tries at will and exposing defensive gaps to take a commanding 39-20 lead into the break, leaving the Eagles with a mountain to climb.
The home side responded immediately after half-time, crossing for a try within the opening minute to spark belief. Although the Ikeys continued to strike and maintain pressure, the Eagles refused to fade, matching them score for score in a high-tempo second half.
With momentum shifting and the home crowd lifting their side, NWU launched a relentless fightback.
Tries from Logan Janeke, MJ Mostert and others kept the scoreboard ticking as the gap steadily closed in a thrilling end-to-end contest.
The decisive moment came in the dying minutes, when Mostert powered over for his second try of the match before the successful conversion sealed a stunning 56-53 win, sending the home supporters into celebration.
The result confirms NWU’s place in a home semi-final and highlights their resilience under pressure, while UCT will rue a missed opportunity after letting a dominant first-half performance slip.
Player of the Match: MJ Mostert (NWU Eagles)
Emeries 41-19 UFS Shimlas
The Emeries put in a massive display in front of their home fans as they impressively defeated a strong UFS Shimlas team by 41-19.
It was the Comets that found the score first as The Transporter, Edward Sigauke found some space and kicked himself a beautiful chip which he picked up and dotted down. Flyhalf Marx made no mistake from the boot to get in the conversion.
A few minutes later, UFS Shimlas responded as their Hooker Jacobus Bezuidenhout finished off a beautiful driving maul.
The home team added the pressure as their captain Jacques Marais dotted down after a close lineout deep in the territory of the visitors extended his team lead by a further five points.
The visiting team, Shimlas, increased the tension as a Gunter Van Rensberg Point of Origin try was successfully converted by Wynand Botha taking the score to a nervy 14-12, twelve minutes away from halftime.
Just before half-time came, Emeris were able to lift off nerves which were accumulating from the home fans as they successfully worked a tap power play route. Meno Benard managed to power himself over the try line. Thereafter, Comets right winger Jayden Fortuin displayed beautiful steps to dot down.
This was to be the last action of the half with the score at 22-14.
The second half came with an even better Comets team who were able to score three minutes into the half through Christian Els.
Emeris were enjoying the game’s momentum, resultantly, they managed to dot down once again after a beautifully worked team try which saw Thando Luthuli at the end of it with a Marx conversion.
For majority of the game, the ball was played in the half of the visitors, however, Shimlas managed to score their third try of the game after the home team lost concentration Ferdinand Vergottini finding a way through the backline of Emeris.
This was to be the last try of the visitors.
Right at the death came a contender for try of the season as Edward Sigauke managed to chase down a massive kick from deep in their halftime. He left the last man flying with some exquisite steps to run down and dot down a POR try.
Player of the Match: Jacques Marais (Emeris)