Pukke, UJ and Maties all began to pick up momentum with victories in Round Two of Varsity 7s, while Kovsies narrowly defeated Madibaz.
Tuks vs NMMU
The Pretoria men, Tuks, got their Varsity 7s campaign back on track after victory over the lively Madibaz team.
Early on, Madibaz’s Riaan Esterhuizen turned on the gas to cut inside and run the length of the field for an opening score. His side were up 7-0 early on.
But moments later, Madibaz received a yellow card and went down to six men. Tuks took advantage immediately, with PJ Uys scoring between the posts and levelling things up at 7-7.
Tuks scored again in a move starting deep within their own half, taking a 14-7 lead with two minutes to play. Tuks continued their ascendency and a Power Play try extended their lead.
Tuks ended 31-7 after WJ Strydom scored at the final hooter.
UJ vs WSU
UJ are quickly becoming the team to beat at Varsity 7s 2016. They scored first through Etienne Oosthuizen to get their second half off to a much better start.
Brilliant interplay and support play between Carlisle Jordaan and Caswell Khoza set up UJ’s second try, as they extended their lead to 10-0.
Odwa Nkunjana scored when UJ passed it out to the right wing and he was too quick for the WSU men, UJ taking a 19-0 lead.
It was a well-rounded performance by UJ, who were inventive on attack but also strong on defence and they end the match on 19-10.
Kovsies vs UFH
Kovsies continued their title defence with a hard-fought victory over UFH in Round Two of Varsity 7s.
A try by Kovsies No 1, Willandre, gave them the early lead. Renier Botha scored for them shortly after that, as Kovsies went up 10-0. UFH pulled it back to 10-7 going into half time.
The second half started well for UFH, but Kovsies soon picked a gap in the UFH defensive line and ran through to take the scores to 20-7.
WSU’s Nzondelelo Gemashe was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down and WSU were down to six.
But despite that, they were right back in the match at 22-19 when Yanga Ngcwangu scored during the Power Play. They couldn’t add to their tally, as Kovsies won 22-19, but UFH look to be a dark horse in this year’s Varsity 7s.
Pukke vs UCT
UCT started slowly again and will rue missed opportunities after Pukke beat them 19-12 in Round Two. Pukke’s Eddie Engelbrecht scored first to put the pressure on UCT early on in the match.
An incredible chip, chased down and slipped to Hein Kritzinger through and the big man scored to take Pukke to a 12-0 lead.
UCT finally got on their board and began to threaten on attack when on the board when Greg Alexander scored in the corner, pulling it back to 12-5.
Another try by UCT pulled it back to 12-12 and the match was back in the balance, but it wasn’t long before Pukke opened the floodgates. Moments later Tiaan Liebenberg pulled his tacklers with him, too strong to take down, crossing over to take Pukke’s lead to 19-12.
Pukke were upping the tempo and Eugene Hare scored after straight, hard running set him through for another five-pointer. It ended 26-12 to Pukke.
UWC vs Maties
UWC have been a surprise package early on in this year’s tournament and Maties, strong favourites, were caught off guard early in the match when Cleo Voster stepped his opponents three time to open up space and a wide pass to Minenhle Mtetwa set up UWC in the corner. They took a 7-0 lead.
It was an evenly contested second half and just before the break it was Maties who executed a brilliant steal through Kyle Steyn, who set up Paul de Wet for a try between the sticks. It was 7-7 at the break.
It was De Wet again for Maties, on the receiving end of a lineout steal, who ran through to give Maties a lead for the first time in the match, 14-7, with three minutes to play.
A sleek inside pass by Morne Taljaard after he dummied his way through the UWC defence, put Pierre du Toit through and took the game away from UWC. After the final hooter, he added a second try of his own to end the match 26-7.
Results:
Tuks 31-7 Madibaz
UJ 19-10 WSU
Kovsies 22-19 UFH
Pukke 26-12 UCT
Maties 26-7 UWC
