As Baphiwe, polished co-MC and presenter alongside the equally eloquent Barron said, “It can’t get better than this”.

Indeed. As if the drama and tension of the epic first semi-final wasn’t enough, UJ and Wits contrived to serve up a dish of even greater exotic delight in semi-final two of the quite simply stunning closing matches of Varsity Hockey action at Maties Astro Monday night.

That the Wits fairy-tale that was unfolding at alarming speed in front of a disbelieving audience of enraptured hockey fans was ultimately blown to smithereens by the UJ juggernaut in the final reckoning, nothing can detract from a sporting spectacle of supreme quality.

Unsung heroes Wits, playing the most inspired brand of hockey you could ever imagine, scored four goals in seven minutes of absolute, utter mayhem between the 28th and 34th minutes of this unforgettable match.

The brilliant Brandon James scored Wits’ first, then made the vital passes to set up Thabang “Smiley” Modise and Stuart Brown for goals two and three … and to add further delight to the rank underdogs’ camp, that third strike came during a Power Play, which earned Wits a bonus goal and a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead.

This is the same unfashionable Wits team that was toyed with by the epitome of bling in SA university hockey, the star-studded UJ outfit, on Friday here in Matieland – and that was an 8-4 stroll in the park for a UJ team that has yet to lose a match in Varsity Hockey 2016.

This is the same Wits University that were relegated last year from the University Sport South Africa (USSA) elite tier of teams at the annual event, which took place on the UKZN Greenfields Turf in 2015.

This is the same Wits team that will play in the B Section – or second division, of this year’s USSA event.

So what actually happened in the end, you might impatiently ask?

Sadly, for the many romantics amongst us, fairy-tales don’t always end in “happily ever after”, and so it proved as UJ dug as deep as it is possible to go in mustering up the courage, energy and just about every other useful resource one can think of, to bring about what is arguably the most extraordinary comeback in SA hockey history.

Amidst the Wits euphoria, both teams knew that there were still a weighty 26 minutes left in the match – and the more experienced UJ side gradually clawed their way back into this thriller-in-a-thousand.

First up it was Brynn Cleak who netted for UJ – in the 51st minute – and crucially it occurred during a Power Play, which gave the men in orange a bonus goal to whittle the deficit to two.

Yet Wits were still 4-2 to the good and the general consensus amongst seasoned observers was that nine minutes might not be enough for UJ to draw level.

But the UJ men were not prepared to entertain any thought of that ilk.

Two minutes away from the Wits fairy-tale coming true it was that man Cleak who once again got in on the act to bring UJ within one goal of parity (4-3).

But it was still Wits 4 UJ 3 so surely the upset of all upsets was still on the cards? An emphatic “No” was UJ’s response to that sort of mind-set and who better to call on when it really matters than captain Gareth Heyns to deliver the goods – and he duly did.

Heyns’ 59th minute penalty corner strike left a matter of seconds to go in regulation time and 4-4 was the way it ended.

Into the penalty shootout showdown this amazing match went – and once again the big-match temperament of the UJ men prevailed as goalkeeper Matthew Martins played a key role in his team taking the shootout stakes 3-1.

It doesn’t matter anymore. We go to UJ on Monday, May 23 for what is sure to be another classic when Heyns and Co. tackle UP-Tuks for 2016 Varsity Hockey glory.

What a mouth-watering prospect.

FNB Player of the Match: Quinton Kernott (Wits)

Samsung Super Striker: Sean Davidson (Wits)

By Jonathan Cook