FNB Varsity Cup: Shimlas Move to the Top of the League Table, While Tuks Chase Home Semifinal

• THE UFS Shimlas went from dark horses to the team to beat in the FNB Varsity Cup with a come-from-behind victory against UJ
• The UP-Tuks kept the pressure up on the UCT Ikey Tigers and the Shimlas for a home semifinal spot with a hard-fought win over Wits
• The Ixias and and The Madibaz collected another set of losses with relegation beckoning for these two teams

The University of the Western Cape claimed a 44-38 win in Belville against the Central University Ixias.

The Ixias battled to cope at the set pieces and collisions. Lock Ulrich Stander was shown a yellow card in the 30th minute after his team committed one transgression too many. Prop Haniel du Toit then crashed over for his second try– and FNB UWC’s fourth. At that stage, the hosts looked to be on course for a comfortable win.

As reported by Sports Brief, the Ixias punished FNB UWC’s poor management thereafter and proceeded to score two tries before the break. At halftime, FNB UWC held a 28-14 lead.

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When lock Matthew Sekele powered over for his second try of the game, the Ixias were suddenly in a position to claim valuable log points from the fixture. Somewhat inevitably, FNB CUT dotted down for a bonus-point try in the 57th minute. Floris Brand slotted a late penalty to ensure that the visitors picked up a second bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

In Tshwane, the University of Pretoria Tuks sweated for a 39-24 victory over a pesky University of Witwatersrand.

The FNB NWU Eagles ran in eight tries in Potchefstroom to defeat the Madibaz 61-26 and keep their slim semifinal hopes alive. Two of them were scored by flank Chris Vermaak but it was right wing Pienaar van Niekerk who earned the FNB Player That Rocks award. The NMMU players can be commended for their spirit, scoring four tries for a bittersweet bonus point as they've already been relegated.

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In Johannesburg, the FNB UFS Shimlas finished strongly to record a 37-26 bonus-point victory against FNB UJ. The Orange Army led 23-16 at halftime and 26-23 on the hour mark but ran out of steam in the final quarter as replacement Kwezi Dlamini and centre Jooste Nel both crossed the line for the visitors.

UCT Ikeys stun Stellenbosch Maties in historic 500th FNB Varsity Cup match

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

As reported on Sports Brief, 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.