Maroon Machine hoping to ride momentum into playoffs

The final round robin fixtures of the FNB Varsity Cup will unfold on Monday night with five teams hoping to book their place in the semi-finals. FNB Maties are one of those sides and currently find themselves in third as they head to FNB CUT who stare down the barrel of relegation.

The Maroon Machine are on their best run in the competition thus far, winning each of their last three matches. A fourth win on the bounce would seal their spot in the last four and should results go their way, they might even finish in the top two.

Maties flanker, Luan Botha, believes that their tightly contested Round Six victory over FNB NWU Eagles was a massive confidence booster heading into crunch time in the competition.

“The belief has always been there throughout the campaign, and we’ve had a couple of really good weeks, the last two or three games. I don’t think it’s necessarily improved our belief in any way, I think it’s just a confirmation of our process – that it’s working,” said Botha.

The 22-year-old admitted that Stellies will have their wits about them when they tackle CUT away from home, knowing that their hosts will be desperate for points. The Maties flanker said,

“I think it’s important that we don’t underestimate them. We need to realize that they are still a proper team and that they are capable of not only causing an upset but beating us as well. I think they’ve done it [beating Maties] twice in the past five years.”

Botha insisted that despite sitting at the foot of the standings, CUT need to be treated with respect on the field.

“They are a good side and it’s important that we are then at our best, not only for them but also then heading into possible playoff opportunities. We won’t underestimate them at all” said the Maties loose forward.

By: Kieryn Thompson.