UCT Ikeys Stun Stellenbosch Maties in Historic 500th FNB Varsity Cup Match

• The 500th FNB Varsity Cup lived up to expectation as the universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch clashed in Cape Town
• The Ikey Tigers kept their composure to see off the visiting Maties 44-27 at a windswept Green Mile on the UCT Rugby Fields
• The result went a long way towards sealing a home semifinal for the hosts, while Maties will look to reset in order to seal their place in the last four

The Cape derby match between the University of Cape Town and the University of Stellenbosch lived up to the billing of the occasion.

The Ikeys and Maties played in the milestone 500th match of the FNB Varsity Cup, with the former running out 44-27 in front of a jubilant home crowd on the Green Mile at the foot of Table Mountain. The match was played at a very high pace in windy conditions, with several point-of-origin tries in the opening 10 matches.

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From there, the FNB Maties forwards began to impose themselves at the gainline. The hosts battled to cope with the physicality of the Maroon Machine and conceded penalty after penalty. Scrumhalf William Rose was shown a yellow card for poor discipline in the 13th minute.

As reported by SuperSport, tighthead prop Vernon Matongo showed terrific skill and determination to finish a try shortly before halftime. A conversion and a subsequent penalty by fullback Nevaldo Fleurs ensured that the visitors went to the break with a 17-10 lead.

True to form, the Ikey Tigers came out firing in the second stanza. Tries by replacements Imad Khan and Mika Schubert kept them in the contest, as did the boot of fullback Duran Koervort.

Just when it appeared as if FNB Maties might regain control, Hartzenberg received the ball in space and raced more than 50m to score a point-of-origin try. Koevort’s conversion propelled the hosts into an eight-point lead with eight minutes remaining. FNB Maties struggled to control possession in the dying stages. When FNB UCT received one final opportunity, however, Hartzenberg accelerated past the exhausted defenders to score his second try and seal the result.

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University of Stellenbosch Maties edges North West University Pukke in entertaining affair

FNB Maties rebounded from a poor start to beat the FNB NWU Eagles 20-12 in round six of the FNB Varsity Cup in Stellenbosch on Monday night.

As reported by Sports Brief, the contest was an arm-wrestle for much of the first quarter.

Eagles captain Sampie Swiegers converted an early opportunity before the hosts responded with a converted try of their own through Sean Swart.