Maties march past UCT in Varsity Cup semi-final

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Maties produced a powerhouse performance to avenge the round-robin loss to UCT in Cape Town and progress to the Varsity Cup final on Monday.

In the pool match between the two teams, the Ikey Tigers made a statement by winning 44-27 on home soil in the Varsity Cup’s landmark 500th game. However, on their return to the Green Mile, a fired-up Maroon Machine simply overpowered UCT in all facets of the game and claimed a 58-19 victory.

With the win, Maties reached their 10th Varsity Cup final and their first since 2019 when they beat UP-Tuks. When they run out next Monday, they will become the first team in Varsity Cup history to play in 10 finals.

It was a memorable game for Maties hooker Sean Swart, who scored a hat-trick from a trio of powerful mauls to take his season tally to 12 tries. Flyhalf Nevaldo Fleurs produced an excellent performance off the tee in windy conditions, slotting five conversions and three penalties.

In an ominous start to the semi-final, UCT lost Rethabile Louw to a yellow card for taking a player out in the air from the first kick-off. Maties wasted little time in punishing the indiscretion as Anton du Toit broke the line from inside his own half, the ball went to Thomas Bursey, who in turn passed on his inside to flank Gift Dlamini, who had too much for the cover defence and scored a point-of-origin try.

While UCT responded through captain Luthando Woji, the rest of the first half belong to Maties as Swart scored the first of his three tries and Sibabalwe Xamlashe dotted down in the corner, to add to two penalties from deadeye kicker Nevaldo Fleurs.

Trailing 31-7 at half time, having conceded 10 penalties and missed 13 tackles in the first half, UCT had plenty of work to do in the second. However, Swart completed his hat-trick and Fleurs slotted his third penalty to all but seal the result in Maties’ favour.

Even when the visitors lost lock Juan Beukes to a yellow card, Maties still managed to add two further tries through Thomas Bursey and Du Toit to bring up the half-century of points.

UCT Ikeys – Tries: Luthando Woji, Sipho Dyonase, Thomas Meyer. Conversions: Duran Koevort (2).
Maties – Tries: Gift Dlamini, Sean Swart (3), Sibabalwe Xamlashe, Thomas Bursey, Anton du Toit. Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (5). Penalties: Fleurs (3).

UCT Ikeys – 15 Duran Koevort, 14 Rihaz Fredericks, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Rethabile Louw, 11 Ntokozo Makhaza, 10 David Hayes, 9 William Rose, 8 Taariq Kruger, 7 Thomas Meyer, 6 Sipho Dyonase, 5 Reynhardt Crous, 4 Conor Evans, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Luthando Woji (c).
Subs: 16 Alex Castle, 17 Lukhanyiso Bomela, 18 Alizwa Mngqeta, 19 Mika Schubert, 20 Jason MacLeod Smith, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Kian Davis, 23 Athi Gazi.

Maties – 15 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 Waqar Solaan, 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Anton du Toit, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Simon Miller, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Gift Dlamini (c), 5 Matt Gray, 4 Juan Beukes, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Sean Swart, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Subs: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Rhynardt Rijnsburger, 18 Friedrich Weilbach, 19 Jesse Johnson, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Mckyle Volmoer, 22 Brendan Venter, 23 Mike Mavovana.

Photo: ZAAHID APPOLES/ASEM ENGAGE

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Dylan Jack