The Danie Craven stadium was brought to its feet on Monday evening when Maties finally got the monkey off their back as they clinched their fourth Varsity Cup trophy. It has taken seven years and three consecutive finals for the Maroon Machine to finally break their trophy drought.
The sellout crowd at the stadium on Monday sang Pukke off the field in the 79th minute when replacement prop Ricky Nwagbara scored for the home team, taking the final score to 40-7 with a successful conversion by flyhalf Chris Smith.
Maties started their third consecutive final on a good note. The home team were certainly looking to catch FNB Pukke out wide and they did on numerous occasions, but were let down by their composure in crucial areas inside Pukke’s territory.
For all their control of the game, it would only be in the 19th minute when FNB Maties would open the scoring. The home team’s dominant scrum, which has been a key feature all season, earned them a penalty try. Maties pinned themselves on Pukke’s five metre and with three consecutive penalties, referee AJ Jacobs awarded the seven points Maties’ way.
The only image that matters. Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
Maties extended their lead in the 31st minute through Smith, who slotted a drop goal, yet it would be Pukke who would have the last say of the first half as they cut their deficit to three points via a try by 8th man Tiaan Bezuidenhout. Flyhalf Schalk Hugo slotted the conversion and the visiting team went into the half time break trailing 10-7.
Maties struck early in the second half, as Pukke strung together a couple of phases before a looping pass was well read by winger Edwill van der Merwe who intercepted for a seven point try. Smith added the extras and all of a sudden Maties were 19-7 ahead.
Maties lock Johan Momsen would extend the home side’s lead to 26 points in the 53rd minute when he barged over from close range. From there Maties looked on course to claim the Varsity Cup trophy, and claim it they did.
The Maroon Machine kept their shape on attack and were equally as good on defence. The home team didn’t stop probing throughout and would get their just reward when replacement winger Munier Hartzenberg sealed the deal for the home team before Nwagbara confirmed the result: Maties – Varsity Cup champions, 2018.
Player That Rocks: Johann van Niekerk (Maties)
Scores
Maties: 40
Tries: Edwill van der Merwe; Johan Momsen; Munier Hartzenberg; Ricky Nwagbara
Conversions: Chris Smith (4)
Penalties:
Drop goals: Chris Smith
NWU: 7
Tries: Tiaan Bezuidenhout
Conversions: Schalk Hugo
Penalties:
Teams
Maties: 15 Carlisle Nel, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Chris Massyn, 6 Johann van Niekerk, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Chippie Oelofse (C)
Replacements: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Piet-Louw Strauss, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Stefan Streicher, 21 Brandon Nel, 22 Munier Hartzenberg, 23 Jordan Chait
NWU: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Jimmy Mpailane, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout, 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Matimu Manganyi
Replacements: 16 Percy Mngadi, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theodore Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandile Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mbatha, 22 Henko Marais, 23 Justin Newman