UJ beat NMMU 36-28 in Johannesburg, while there were also wins for Maties, Tuks and Wits in round six of the Varsity Cup.
UJ were quick out of the blocks against the Madibaz and raced out to a 17-point lead courtesy of two early converted tries coupled with penalty by sharpshooter, Divan Nel. NMMU were not discouraged and hit back on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit to 17-5 at the midway mark.
The visitors continued to claw their way back into the contest, crossing for two quick tries after the interval to take a 19-17 lead, but their joy was short lived when first scrumhalf Johan Esterhuizen then wing Godfrey Ramaboea barged over to put UJ back in the ascendancy. Nel added the extras on both occasions and slotted a second penalty.
But NMMU showed great resolve as they continued to bash away at the tryline and their persistence paid off with a late consolation effort.
Meanwhile, Wits stunned reigning champions Pukke 24-13. Former Paarl Boys' duo Gianni Lombard and Manie Rass were influential for the winners, with the latter scoring an all-important seven-point try to secure the result.
In what was labeled the potential game of the week, Maties lashed Shimlas 58-12 in their top-of-the-table clash in Bloemfontein.
And Tuks set a new record for the biggest point-margin victory in the competition when they thumped CUT 100-0 in Pretoria. Wing Dewald Naude scored a hat-trick, while fullback Manie Libbok and lock Ashton Fortuin both dotted down twice.
UJ (36) – Tries: Nico Du Plessis, Aphiwe Dyanti, Johan Esterhuizen, Godfrey Ramaboea. Conversions: Divan Nel (4). Penalties: Nel (2).
NMMU (28) – Tries: Thomas Kean, Nicholas Oosthuizen, Wynard Grassmann, Simon Bolze. Conversions: Kean (2).
Pukke (13) – Tries: Louis van der Westhuizen, Jimmy Mpailane. Penalty: Julian Delicado.
Wits (24) – Tries: Gianni Lombard, Constant Beckerling, Manuel Rass. Conversions: Lombard (2). Penalty: Lombard.
Shimlas (12) – Tries: Armand Pretorius, Stephan Janse Van Rensburg. Conversion: Marco Mason.
Maties (58) – Tries: Edwill Van der Merwe (3), Chris Smith, Stephan Streicher, Duncan Saal, Johan Van Niekerk, Craig Barry. Conversions: Chris Smit (4), Reinhardt Fortuin.
Tuks (100) – Tries: Joshua Stander, Neethling Fouche, Dewald Naude (3), Manie Libbok (2), Ashton Fortuin (2), Andre Warner, Sibahle Maxwane, Divan Rossouw, Tinus de Beer, Franco van den Berg. Conversions: Stander (4), Libbok (5).
CUT (0).
Photo: Varsity Cup
