The University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria put up big wins in the Varsity 7s Cup quarter-finals while CPUT’s dream run came to an abrupt end on Day Two at the Pirates Club in Johannesburg.
CPUT v Madibaz
The Madibaz put the pressure on the new boys from the outset as they scored two quick tries through Athenkosi Mayinje and Ivan-John du Preez off the back of unforced errors by CPUT but the men from the Cape did pull back a try as Lucan Kirchner trotted in for a converted try to cut the half time deficit to 12-7.
The opening minutes of the second half was littered with mistakes by both teams but the Madibaz eventually woke from their slumber as Mayinje rounded the defence to dot down before Siphumelele Msutwana raced down the right-hand touchline to score his charges’ fourth try.
CPUT did come close in the dying moments of their first Varsity 7s quarterfinal with Ryan Solomons running in a powerplay try but a failed restart saw them go down 22-19 to the Madibaz with CPUT’s dream run coming to an abrupt end.
UJ v Kovsies
The defending champions wasted no time in opening their account against last year’s finalists as Ronald Brown raced in for a try which was followed up by tries to Zachery Webb and Jaundre Michau (power play) to rack up a 24-0 lead at the break.
Kovsies had nothing in the tank to stop the orange juggernaut as Odwa Nkunjana put on the afterburners to run in a brilliant try but they need to be commended on their tenacious attitude throughout the second half as Bongani Mahlangu crossed the chalk for their first try.
It was UJ all the way in the final moments as they crossed the whitewash three more times while they restricted Kovsies to one to register a 57-10 win as they advanced to the Cup semi-finals.
NWU v UWC
UWC looked to start Day Two’s action on a better footing than Day One as they outstripped NWU to run in the opening try but the men from Potchefstroom made them pay for their yellow card as Diederik Oberholzer crossed in the right-hand corner to take the lead with a powerplay try.
The men from the Cape refused to lie down and their attacking intent paid off as Rohaan Adams pulled back a try before Eloff Scheepers ensured that NWU went into the break with a slender 17-12 lead.
Adams stuck his hand up for UWC as he broke the dam wall to run in a converted try which was followed up by Kurt-Lee Arendse to add salt to NWU’s wounds.
The action was palpable throughout the third Cup quarter-final as Dean Gordon added some spice after collecting a long pass to score but it was not enough as UWC finished on top with the scoreboard reading 29-22 in their favour.
UP-Tuks v Maties
UP-Tuks would have been frustrated with the docking of points due to not fielding the correct amount of players of colour on Day One and took it out on the Maroon Machine as Denzel Hill burst through the defence to score the opening try.
The men from Pretoria proved to be a nuisance for Maties as they played an abrasive style of rugby and pressure from a chased field kick resulted in a penalty to UP-Tuks went they shifted through the hands as WJ Strydom touched down in the corner.
There have been several players who have stood up for their respective teams with Dewald Naudé excelling for UP-Tuks with the former Varsity Cup champion scoring a try on the brink of half time to hand his outfit a 19-0 lead at the break.
It continued to be one-way traffic as the match resumed as UP-Tuks scored two quick tries including one to Mihle Nelani with the Stripe Generation advancing to the Cup semi-finals off the back of a 29-0 victory.
By Dan Lombard
