UWC and NWU remain unbeaten while UCT win first match of Day one in Round Four of the 2017 Varsity 7s tournament in Durban.
UCT 17-12 Maties
UCT started their fourth match of the day with a bang as Ty Willis scored in the right-hand corner seconds after kick-off but Maties responded immediately as Edrich Pretorius ran the length of the field to score a converted try.
Pretorius stretched Maties lead to 12-7 just before the break as the Maroon Machine looked to make amends for their loss to Kovsies in Round Three.
Both teams tightened up on defence in the second half with unforced errors creeping into the match. Willis got his second try during a Power Play to give UCT a slender five-point lead which they held onto until the final whistle.
CUT 17-20 Kovsies
CUT startled their more fancied opponents Kovsies when Olwethu Ndakisa slipped through a few tackles to score an unexpected try. Masego Toolo continued CUT’s strong attacking momentum as he dotted down for a 12-0 at half-time.
Vuyani Maqina has been in scintillating form on Day 1 of the 2017 Varsity 7s tournament with a nose for the tryline. He made his presence felt in the opening exchanges of the second half as he scored in the corner. His efforts were followed up by a five pointer to Janco Cloete.
CUT’s Ruan Smit gave his team some space to breathe with a few minutes to go but Murray Bondesio overturned the deficit for Kovsies as he scored during the power play. A knock on by CUT with the try-line beckoning put paid to their hopes as Kovsies walked away with a 20-17 win.
UJ 15-12 UP-Tuks
Raegan Oranje and Dewald Naude opened the proceedings for UP-Tuks as the speedsters ran in two quick tries. UJ pushed for a try of their own in the first half but UP-Tuks remained rock solid as they took a 12-0 lead into the break.
It may have been all UP-Tuks on the field in the second half but it was UJ who converted their opportunities as they scored two tries including a ten pointer to Ronald Brown. Both conversions were missed but it was enough to see UJ claim a 15-12 win over their Gauteng neighbours.
UWC 14-5 UKZN
It did not take long for UWC to stamp their authority on the match as Rohaan Adams crossed for two converted tries while Thobekani Buthelezi pulled back a try for UKZN just before the half-time break.
The men from KZN punched far above their weight as they thwarted UWC’s waves of attacks. UWC’s frustration was evident as unforced errors crept into their game but they did enough to see out the match and gain another scalp with a hard fought 14-5 win.
NWU 22-5 Madibaz
NWU were adamant to keep their winning record intact and took a step in the right direction as De Wet Terblanche scored their opening try.
Both power plays were called in the first half but neither team benefited from the periods of double scoring. A late converted try in the first half by NWU bumped up their cushion with the North-West University holding a 12 nil lead at the break.
NWU put their foot on the accelerator in the opening minutes of the second half as Gerhard Meyer scored yet another try for the men from Potchefstroom. The Madibaz ran hard at NWU but they just could not break down NWU’s defence.
The Madibaz were eventually rewarded for their efforts as Josiah Twum-Bofoa dotted down but it was merely a consolation try as Meyer got his second as NWU remained unbeaten with a 22-5 win over NMU.
By Dan Lombard
