Jonathan Mokuena’s UJ secured their place in the Varsity Cup for next season by hammering UWC, while there were wins for Maties, UCT and NWU in the eighth and penultimate round on Monday.

In Bellville, UJ powered to a 50-28 bonus-point win over UWC to move clear of the relegation zone. The Orange Army can breathe easier having secured their place in next year’s Varsity Cup. What’s more, the big win over UWC has kept them in the hunt for a spot in the 2022 playoffs – although they will need to win their next match and hope that other results go their way.

UWC will lament their poor performance in this must-win fixture. They failed to meet the challenge of the UJ forwards at the gainline and lost the territorial battle. The hosts conceded a series of penalties in their own half and flank Godfrey Muzanargwo was saw two yellows and then a red card before the end of the first stanza.

UJ used their maul and the big kicking boot of Jonathan Viljoen to devastating effect. They went into the break with a 31-14 lead and the four-try bonus point in the bag. The visitors maintained the pressure after the break. The attack racked up 50 points, but the defence could not stop UWC from claiming a bonus point for four or more tries.

UWC will face Maties next week. They will need a bonus-point win at the Danie Craven Stadium, and other results to go their way, in order to avoid relegation to the Varsity Shield.

In Stellenbosch, winger Marcqiewn Titus scored a hat-trick as Maties thrashed the already-relegated Madibaz 61-21.

The hosts scored eight tries in total, with flyhalf Jurie Matthee and replacement loose forward Siya Matanda each grabbing a brace. Matthee also kicked seven conversions and a penalty goal to finish with a 27-point haul and the Player That Rocks award.

 The NWU Eagles scored two late tries to beat a gutsy CUT Ixias team 33-14 in Bloemfontein.

With rain pouring down throughout, both sides played within themselves while making good use of their forwards. The hosts took a 14-7 lead late in the first half thanks to two driving maul tries, with their backs rushing in to help the forwards get over the line.

But the Eagles, who opened the scoring with a maul try from lock Marvelous Mashimbyi, hit back just before the break when wing Tino Swanepoel scored from a kick-pass. NWU’s other wing, Keenan Twigg, finished off a backline move at the end of the third quarter, before scrumhalf Sylvester Hassien and No 8 Andre Fouche struck late to secure a bonus-point win that keeps the Eagles’ semi-final hopes alive.

In Johannesburg, the UCT Ikeys boosted their hopes of hosting a semi-final with a 47-23 win over Wits. The visitors led 14-0 after 20 minutes thanks to tries by centre Suleiman Hartzenberg (point of origin) and hooker Keagan Blanckenberg, before the hosts hit back with two converted tries that levelled the scores.

But, UCT crossed the line again in first-half stoppage time through lock Reynhardt Crous and went on to dominate the second half, scoring another four tries. Wits didn’t help their cause by having two players – flank Alexander Skudder and lock Edward White – yellow-carded within 10 minutes of each other.

Varsity Cup Round 8 results and scorers:

UWC 28 (14) – Tries: Mauritz Swart, Will Vraagom (1×7), Justin Theys, Peter Williams (1×7). Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (2).
UJ 50 (24) – Tries: Keegan Joubert., Darnell Osuagwu (2), Musawenkosi Tshabalala, Chergin Fillies, Shaun-Christian Baxter, Kelvin Kanenungo. Conversions: Jonathan Viljoen (6). Penalty: Viljoen.
Player That Rocks: Musawenkosi Tshabalala, (UJ)

UFS Shimlas 26 (19) – Tries: Jooste Nel, Ruwald van der Merwe, Litha Nkula, Nqobani Dlamini. Conversions: Nkula (3).
UP-Tuks 15 (3) – Tries: Mihlali Stamper, Allister Williams. Conversion: Stefan Coetzee. Penalty: Walter Visser.
Player That Rocks: Thabo Ndimande (UFS Shimlas)

Maties 61 (31) – Tries: Marcqiewn Titus (2×7, 1×5), Chris Rossouw, Jurie Matthee (2), Siya Matanda (2). Conversions: Matthee (7). Penalty: Matthee.
Madibaz 21 (7) – Tries: Arnouw Nel, Anovuyo Moyikwa, Jade Stoffels. Conversions: Sibalomzi Mqeni, Kholiowe Khonza (2).
Player That Rocks: Jurie Matthee (Maties)

CUT Ixias 14 (14) – Tries: Tiaan Drotske, Septimus Derkesen. Conversions: Floris Brand (2).
NWU Eagles 33 (12) – Tries: Marvelous Mashimbyi, Tino Swanepoel, Keenan Twigg, Sylvester Hassien, Andre Fouche. Conversions: Martin Venter (4).
Player That Rocks: Andre Fouche (NWU Eagles)

Wits 23 (14) – Tries: Dameon Venter, Luhle Matyolweni, Ebot Buma (1×7). Conversions: Chris Humphries (3).
UCT Ikeys 47 (19) – Tries: Suleiman Hartzenberg (1×7), Keagan Blanckenberg, Reynhardt Crous, Ntokozo Makhaza, Duran Koevort, Thomas Meyer, Jason MacLeod Smith (1×7). Conversions: Koevort (2), Kyle Bowman (2).
Player That Rocks: David Hayes (UCT Ikeys)

Varsity Cup Round 9 fixtures (11 April):

• UJ vs UP-Tuks (5pm, UJ Stadium, SuperSport channel 211)
• NWU Eagles vs Wits (7pm, Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, SuperSport channel 211)
• Maties vs UWC (7pm, Danie Craven Stadium, SuperSport Schools App)
• Madibaz vs UFS Shimlas (7pm, Madibaz Stadium, SuperSport Schools App)
• UCT Ikeys vs CUT Ixias (7pm, UCT Rugby Fields, SuperSport Schools App).

Photo: ASEM Engage/Nasief Manie