In the penultimate round of Day One, the champions were defeated as Maties look unstoppable and UWC promise to be the surprise package of 2016.
Pukke vs Kovsies
The defending champions suffered their first loss of the 2016 competition when they were pipped by Pukke at the death.
Kovises were calculated and a decision to take the Power Play with a lineout five metres from Pukke’s tryline paid off, as Murray Bandesio crashed over to put them ahead 10-0.
Tiaan Liebenberg started the second half strongly, cutting through Kovsies’ defence and pulling it back to 10-5. The Potch men were fired up and a try by Pukke’s Dewet Terblanche, scored off a very cleverly-worked lineout move, took Pukke to a 12-10 lead.
They held on to defeat the defending champions 12-10.
UCT vs Tuks
In a thrilling Round Four match, the underperforming UCT took on a well-oiled Tuks machine.
It was UCT who scored first, as Gerard Pieterse crashed over to put his side 5-0 up. But that was short-lived as Tuks hit back with a try of their own through WJ Strydom to level it up at 5-5.
From there on it was all Tuks as they grabbed a foothold on the game. Tries by PJ Uys and Quaide Langerveldt secured victory despite a reply by UCT with a brilliant cut inside by Brad Janse van Rensburg to pull one back.
Not even a yellow card to Impi Visser could slow Tuks down, as it ended 27-14 to the men from Pretoria.
UJ vs UWC
It was an upset in Round Four as UJ suffered their first defeat of 2016 at the hands of UWC.
An early yellow to UJ’s Odwa Nkunjana for a high tackle had UJ down to six men and a quick tap by Ruan Mostert allowed the big man to score and put UWC 7-0 up.
It wasn’t long before UJ replied when UJ’s Carlisle Jordaan found a gap just outside his 22, ran into the opposition half and offloaded to Caswell Khosa to score in the corner and pull it back to 7-5.
But UWC were up for the fight. Rohaan Adams scored in the corner and UJ’s Caswell Khosa was yellow carded to make matters worse for his team. Jacquin Moses’ superb kicking helped UWC add the extra points as they led 14-5 at half time.
Etienne Oosthuizen pulled one back for UJ, but the score remained 14-10 in UWC’s favour as the Capetonians completed the upset.
Maties vs UFH
Maties look unstoppable in Day One of Varsity 7s. They were ruthless against UFH from the kickoff.
An early breakaway try by Kyle Steyn put them ahead and soon after that Angus van Niekerk had the overlap but dummied the pass to break the UFH defence and run through for their second.
A yellow card to Qhama Masiza for not moving away 10 metres and Josh Moon used the overlap to score for Maties. It was 19-0 at the break.
Brandon Asher-Wood got the ball inside his own half and took on UFH’s Sibongile Novuka, rounding him, too quick, and scored beneath the posts.
After a missed opportunity to score by UFH, Maties’ Stephan Streicher picked the ball up straight off a 22m drop out and ran the length of the field to score another for his side.
In the end Maties were far too strong for UFH and when Morne Taljaard stepped three defenders to score between the sticks, the score ended 45-0.
Madibaz vs WSU
Madibaz were looking to move up the table while WSU were looking for their first victory of the day.
After a cagey few opening minutes it was Madibaz who broke the deadlock. Christiaan Willemse and Etienne Cilliers combined to put their side 7-0 ahead after four minutes.
Some quick passing led to Madibaz working it down the right wing to put the PE team 14-0 up just before at half time. Etienne Cilliers crossing over for the try.
Early in the second half the ball was brilliantly held up by Riaan Esterhuizen, who offloaded to his arriving support and Ivan-John du Preez finished off the move in the corner to extend Madibaz’s lead to 21-0.
With one minute to play Bryce Rennie crashed through for Madibaz and put them 26-0 ahead.
There was consolation for WSU as Luvo Matiwane scored at the final whistle. But it ended 26-5 in favour of Madibaz.
Results:
Pukke 12-10 Kovsies
UCT 14-27 Tuks
UJ 10-14 UWC
Maties 45-0 UFH
Madibaz 26-5 WSU
