Drama in opening round of FNB Varsity Cup Women 2026 as defending champs Maties lose to UFH

The Baby Blues stunned defending champions FNB Maties at home in the FNB Varsity Cup Women’s opener at the Danie Craven Stadium. Last year’s finalists FNB UP-Tuks produced a polished second-half display to overcome the Orange Army and in Durban the UKZN Impi help on the beat the University Of the Western Cape.

FNB Maties 5-19 FNB UFH Women

The FNB Varsity Cup Women’s competition kicked off with a 14-point victory for FNB UFH Women who stunned FNB Maties by 19-5 in Stellenbosch on Friday.

Cwenga Joni opened the scoring on the 10-minute mark after rounding the FNB Maties Women defense with some fancy footwork to dot down under the posts. FNB UFH flyhalf, Inga Qogi, made no mistake with the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The visitors piled on the pressure forcing FNB Maties into some uncharacteristic errors. That pressure resulted in a FNB UFH scrum inside Stellenbosch’s 22’ which saw them double their lead thanks to a brilliantly executed scrum set piece, with Sindisiwe Mbonja applying the finishing touch. Qogi’s conversion was good, giving FNB UFH a 14-0 lead heading into half-time.

The Maroon Machine came into the second half with a slight advantage as a result of Sibabalwe Jobo’s yellow card just before the break. The hosts made that numerical advantage count as Palesa Matee carved through the defense to get the defending champions on the board.

Ankia Viljoen’s conversion struck the upright and stayed out to keep the score at 14-5 in favor of the away side.

Maties struggled to get a grip on the game with one too many handling errors. The visiting side made the most of their opportunities while showing a free-flowing style of rugby.

Joni got her second of the afternoon after FNB UFH kept the ball moving through the hands that saw the winger going over the line in the left-hand corner. Qogi’s attempt to add the extra two-points had the direction but just fell short as the visitors moved into an unassailable 19-5 lead just before the hour mark.

Both sides came close to adding a try apiece but just couldn’t manage to get over the line as the defending champions came up short in their season opener at the Danie Craven.

SCORERS

FNB Maties Women: (0) 5 

Tries: Palesa Matee

FNB UFH Women: (14) 19

Tries: Cwenga Joni X2, Sindisiwe Mbonja

FNB Player of the Match: Cwenga Joni (FNB UFH Women)

TEAMS:

FNB Maties Women: Lekobane Masebe, Sesethu Dumke, Sesethu Ntamnani, Sarah Krone, Catherine Coetzee, Stefney-Rose De Vries, Khanyisile Mpingane, Palesa Matee, Taliyah Bussack, Ankia Viljoen, Tiana van Wyk, Jenna Meyer, Mijean Fryer, Mmanthopeng Thopola, Wendy Lewak.

FNB UFH Women: Mila Wawa, Aphiwe Nqana, Eyam Ngalo, Lilitha Ngwenze, Masie Mathangane, Thokozani Sikela, Simamnkele Jolingana, Rose Haka, Sindisiwe Mbonja, Inga Qogi, Cwenga Joni, Lilitha Vakalisa, Sibabalwe Jobo, Siyolise Mbilase, Litha Tofu.

FNB UJ Women 7-19 FNB UP-Tuks Women 

FNB UP-Tuks delivered a polished second half performance to down FNB UJ Women in the opening round of the FNB Varsity Cup Women in Johannesburg on Friday.

The match, which started 30 minutes due to lightning, and bad weather forced both sides to change their game plans and keep ball in hand.

The hosts had a perfect start and opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Thabisile Zungu was at the end of some silk play from the backline.

The tempo of the game slowed down after that score until UP-Tuks responded in the 18th minute through fullback Kwanga Majebe.

The side led by coach Lizanne Jacobs scored another try six minutes later when Precious Tlaka found herself in space after a break to score a point-of-origin try and extend her side’s lead. FNB UP-Tuks led 14-7 at the break. 

The rain continued to pour down in the second half, and it was neck and neck for most parts of the half.

FNB UP-Tuks continued their momentum, and Lidene Kruger powered her way through after the 50th minute mark to take her side’s lead to 19-7.

That would be the last score of the game, and UJ tried to fight back but FNB UP-Tuks defended well in tough, wet conditions to win their fight game of the tournament. 

SCORERS:

FNB UJ Women: (7) 7

Tries: Thabisile Zungu.

FNB UP-Tuks Women: (14) 14

Tries: Kwanga Majebe, Precious Tlaka, Lidene Kruger.

FNB Player of the Match: Precious Tlaka (FNB UJ Women)

TEAMS:

FNB UJ Women: Vuyiswa Dlamini, Salizwa Tyali, Alutha Ngcezula, Limamkele Duma, Lethiwe Buthelezi, Siyanda Mtsweni, Ntandoyenkosi Nhleko, Amber Howell, Risper Mgwenya, Siham Chtioui, Erica Ekeji, Thabisile Zungu, Sindiswa Ngwenya, Boitumelo Motshoane, Hlobisile Mbatha. 

FNB UP-Tuks Women: Cassidy Jacobs, Aphiwe Masuku, Ox Xholi, Itumeleng Malala, Mbali Ndlovu, Thando Mokatse, Angelique Ross-Allen, Gugu Mncwabe, Erin Prins, Precious Tlaka, Tesmeque Maritz, Lidene Kruger, Abigail de Jager, Anele Mgwazela, Kwanga Majebe.

FNB UKZN Women14-10 FNB UWC Women

It was the IMPI Ladies that drew first blood after a series of attacking plays by the home team. 

The ball was received wide by Dimpho Mogashoa, who went over the try line to dot down just before the first Strategy break of the game. A try which was beautifully converted by Sphesihle Fihlela to give the home team the lead. 

The home team kept on pressing after the first strategy break; however, they couldn’t get anything from the efforts. 

Moment switched in favor of the away team about 5 minutes away from halftime as FNB UWC Women increased intensity on their scrums. The fight of the Western Cape ladies did not bear any fruits as the game went into the 7-0 to UKZN. 

The second half began and the visitors looked more dangerous team. 

FNB UWC were finally rewarded for their fight as Davedine March squeezed through to get something out wide after a swift attacking move. 

The visitors struck again at the 63rd minute as captain Lee-Amber Beukes dotted down from an impressive left to right switched play to take the score to 7-10 to the visiting teams. 

It was right at the end when FNB UKZN Women stole the match in the most dramatic way, as a scrum came deep within the half of the visitors. The home team showcased a strong scrum as the big Tight-Head prop Siphokuhle Mdletshe dotted down the winning try of the match with less than 5 minutes to play. 

IMPI ladies hung on to their lead to claim victory in the most dramatic way. 

SCORERS

FNB UKZN Women: (7) 14

Tries: Dimpho Mogashoa, Siphokuhle Mdletshe

FNB UWC Women: (0) 10

Tries: Davedine March, Lee-Amber Beukes 

FNB Player of the Match: Sphesihle Fihlela (FNB UKZN)

TEAMS

FNB UKZN Women: Sandulelo Nyawose, Nonduduzo Yengwa, Siphokuhle Mdletshe, Zama Mbeje, Lulama Cele, Athiphile Njiyela, Teddy Gatyana, Hlekane Baloyi, Asanda Mnyandu, Snethemba Mzimela, Charmaine Mogashoa, Mahlogonolo Nkoane, Bokamoso Mokali, Tshepiso Maseme, Sphesihle Fihlela.