After a tough first half, defending champions FNB NWU Eagles ran away for a thorough victory over FNB Wits in round four of the 2024 FNB Varsity Cup. FNB UFS Shimlas continued their fine form beating FNB UWC while FNB Maties were victorious over FNB UWC. FNB UCT Ikeys had too much firepower for FNB CUT.
FNB NWU EAGLES 51 – 22 FNB WITS
FNB NWU Eagles returned to winning ways beating FNB Wits 51-22 in a masterclass performance at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground.
The Eagles started the game strong with a try from Chyle Van Zyl following long periods of possession. It was not long before they extended their lead through a brilliant dribble by Keano Windvogel who offloaded to Arnoldus Vlok who added the five-pointer. Another excellent team move saw Naiden Jaarts making it 23-0 to the home team who were flying high.
Witsies reduced the deficit with a try by Dewet Lottering after a lineout driving maul. The Eagles were quick to respond with a try by Marvelous Mashimbyi. The visitors added to tries through Setshaba Mokoena and Dewet-Grant Fourie from mauls. A penalty by Tireque Apolles made the scoreboard 30-22 in favour of the Eagles at half-time.
The visitors were completely shut out in the second half while NWU piled on even more pressure through a second try by Van Zyl, with one apiece by Windvogel and Hennie du Randt.
SCORERS
FNB NWU Eagles 51 (30) - Tries: Chyle van Zyl (2), Marvelous Mashimbyi, Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, Naiden Jaarts, Keano Windvogel, Hennie du Randt. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (6).
FNB Wits 22 (22) - Tries: Setshaba Mokoena, Dewet Lottering, Dewet-Grant Fourie. Conversions: Tireque Apolles (2). Penalties: Apolles.
FNB Player That Rocks: Marvelous Mashimbyi (FNB NWU Eagles)
FNB NWU Eagles: Matome Molebogeng Manyama, Chyle Van Zyl, Ntobeko Thabiso Shezi, Stephan Krugel, Franco Marais, Hennie du Randt, Tian Van Zyl, Marvelous Mashimbyi, Aphelele Emihle Madaka, Zinedine Robinson, Naiden Jaarts, Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, Matthew Luke Fortuin, Keano Ricardo Windvogel, Shaun-Christian Baxter.
FNB Wits: Jason Cloete, Dewet Lottering, Liam Alfred Whitehead, Hendrik Theunis Gouws, Cal Smid, Kelvin Kanenungo, Dewet-Grant Fourie, Lindokuhle Ncusane, Wernich Aucamp, Tireque Apolles, Lindani Dweba, Caleb Lombard, Liyema Matyolweni, Dustyn Matthew Holmes, Setshaba Mohlakoane Mokoena.
FNB UFS SHIMLAS 48 – 26 FNB UWC
FNB UFS Shimlas recorded a third-straight bonus point win after a hard-fought 38-26 win over the FNB UWC in Bloemfontein, and they did this with 14 men in the park.
Three minutes into the match Shimla's captain Pierre Uys received a yellow card for a grass-cutter tackle and this put pressure on his team. It was however handling errors and penalties early in the game that led to the Shimlas struggling to get going. UWC managed to capitalise on this through their inside centre, Bryan Brenda, who powered over for a converted try.
It took a full 20 minutes for the Shimla to find their rhythm and once they did, the scrumhalf, Makwande Dlamini flew over for a point-of-origin try, after an initial break by Zane Bester in their 22. Shortly before the break, Fracisco Dos Reis crashed over and then Siviwe Zondani scored straight from the restart for a second seven-pointer for a 25-7 lead at half-time.
The second stanza saw hooker Liyema Mgwigwi scoring while Michiel Genis and Nkoka Ngobe also added their names to the score sheet.
Uys received a second yellow that was upgraded to a red card for a high tackle, and this gave UWC a sniff, but the hosts managed to remain composed while being a man short.
UWC certainly didn’t go down without a fight and their valiant effort was rewarded with tries by Ruben Swanepoel, captain Romuan Nsombamanya and winger Will Vraagom.
SCORERS
FNB UFS Shimlas 48 (25) - Tries: Makwande Dlamini, Fracisco Dos Reis, Siviwe Zondani, Nkoka Ngobe, Michiel Genies, Liyema Mgwigwi. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (5).
FNB UWC 26 (7) - Tries: Bryan Breda, Will Vraagom, Romuan Nsombamanya, Ruben Swanepoel. Conversions: Conwill Conradie (3).
FNB Player That Rocks: Ethan Wentzel (FNB UFS Shimlas)
FNB UFS Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlophe, Liyema Mgwigwi, Riaan Jacobus van der Merwe, Reinier Viljoen, Katlego Khumo Lobakeng, Henri van Heerden, Pierre-Raymond Uys, Siyambuka Sobe Nakhane Ningiza, Makwande Nqobani Melusi Dlamini, Ethan SJ Wentzel, Siviwe Zondani, Gideon Jooste Nel, Zane Bester, Michiel Christiaan De Graaff Genis, Michael Annies.
FNB UWC: Hlonela Qelile, Joshua Eras, Keanuh Cameron Michaels, Michail Kasfikis, Carel Van der Merwe, Romuad Nsombamanya, Louan De Lange, Tyrone Farren Maritz, Conwill Brooklyn Conradie, Aaron Benjamin Swartz, Hlomla Ncana, Bryan John Breda, Denver-Junior Van Wyk, Will Bradford Vraagom, Jean Jacques van Schalkwyk.
FNB MATIES 54 – 22 FNB UJ
FNB Maties overpowered FNB UJ 54-22 in a thrilling encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Initially, it was closely contested with both sides producing exciting attacking rugby in the first half with the Orange Army enjoying a narrow 22-19 lead over the home side.
The Maroon Machine however comprehensively outscored the visitors from Johannesburg by seven tries to three.
Although Jonathan Mokoena’s side fought gamely for most of the match, they did not have enough firepower in the second half to build on the foundation they laid in the first 40 minutes.
UJ came out with an alternate strip after half-time, but this did not help much, with the home side inspired by their fanatical support on a hot and humid night in Stellenbosch
Maties struggled in the set scrums at first but after 28 minutes head coach Kabamba Floors decided to replace his whole front row. This brought stability to that aspect of their game.
Floors said afterwards his side deserved the win, but they didn’t start well.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but as the game went on we minimized the mistakes. After the break, we started to string a few phases together and started playing. I told the guys at half-time we were not playing in the right areas of the field. We decided to play the territory game.”
SCORERS
FNB Maties 54 (19) - Tries: Louw Nel (2), Vernon Matongo (2), W van den Hever, DeWet Marais, Paschal Ekeji. Conversions: Juan Mostert (4). Conversion: C van Heerden-Smith (2).
FNB UJ 22 (22) - Tries: Prince Nkabinde, Likhaya Tengimfene, Mauritz Maritz. Conversions: Rowan Malgas (1). Penalties: Rowan Malgas (1).
FNB Player That Rocks: DeWet Marais (FNB Maties)
FNB Maties: Prince Rotondwa Mulea, Siyasanga Ngubelanga, Moegammad Ammaar Burton, Matthys Jacobus Bernardus Kitshoff, Matthew Gray, Eric Chris Basson, Louw Nel, DeWet Marais, Mckyle Volmoer, Juan Mostert, Matthew Emile Van Schalkwyk, Brendan John Venter, Aydon Colin Topley, Ryan Marcus Manuel, Hofmeyr Gideon Retief.
FNB UJ: Heiko Peter Eugene Pohlmann, Mauritz Swart, Roedolf Fouche Schoeman, Marius Coetzee, Connor Van Buuren, Athi Galada, Philip Apea Adu, Siyemukela Samukelo Ndlovu, Kgothatso Sono, Rowan Malgas, Prince Nkabinde, Likhaya Tengimfene, Sfiso Perseverance Dlamini, Meyer Kriel, Boldwin Hansen.
FNB UCT IKEYS 44 – 7 FNB CUT
FNB UCT Ikeys have made it three out of three at home after cruising past FNB CUT Ixias 44-7 at the Green Mile.
The Tigers scored four first-half tries as they bossed around the vulnerable Ixias side who looked powerless in the first stanza.
Winger Notokozo Makhaza broke the deadlock as he scored a point-of-origin try following an error by the visitors who lost a crucial ball in their 22. He didn’t make any mistake with the conversion taking the score to 9-0.
Lock Enos Ndiao forced his way through the CUT defence to dive over for UCT’s second try. Scrumhalf Riaan Genis did not want to be left out and after a successful lineout, driven by eight-man Reynhardt Crous, Genis scored his try. Makhaza’s conversion took the score to 23-0.
A crosskick from Tigers flyhalf Alexander Vermeulen found hooker Keagan Blanckenberg standing in the wing position and he powered his way over the tryline. Makhaza slotted his fourth successful conversion taking the score to 30-0 at half-time.
Xola Nyali scored UCT’s fifth try 10 minutes into the second half. It didn’t take long for Makhaza to add a second try to his name taking the score to 44-0 after 56 minutes.
CUT utility back Juan Arnold Smith scored the only try for the visitors from a good line-out ball. Flyhalf Natanael Young netted the conversion, but it was too little, too late.
SCORERS
FNB UCT Ikeys 44 (30) - Tries: Ntokoza Makhaza (2), Enos Ndiao, Riaan Genis, Keagan Blanckenberg, Xola Nyali. Conversions: Ntokozo Makhaza (6).
FNB CUT 7 (0) - Tries: Juan Arnold Smith. Conversions: Natanael Young.
FNB Player That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza (FNB UCT)
FNB UCT Ikeys: Mhleli Khethuxolo Khuzwayo, Keagan Blanckenberg, John Kelly Ifechukwu Okonkwo, Enos Ndiao, Johan van Rhyn, Xola Nyali, Laro Delport, Reynhardt Crous, Riaan Genis, Alexander Vermeulen, Ntokozo Sibusiso Makhaza, Jonathan Roche, Thomas Nel, Lezane George Davis, Duran Ryan Koevort.
FNB CUT: Jan-Hendrik Bessenger, Albertus Human Venter, Leon Johan Franzsen, Asekho Phindile Marubelela, Jonathan Olivier, Tsebano Edward Stemer, Tjaart Jurie Van der Walt, Jacobus Johannes Cloete, Raydon Swartbooi, Natanael Young, Tsepo Siphosethu Malumane, Septimus Dercksen, Liam Prinsloo, Adielson Gouveia, Devanito Lushan Vergotine.
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