The defending Varsity Cup champions, the University of the Free State Shimlas’ incredible 14-match unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end on Monday evening with a 72-49 loss to the University of Johannesburg.
UJ crossed the whitewash on six occasions as they thumped the champions at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, with Ronald Brown and Bradley Moolman each dotting down for a nine-point try.
The champions star winger, Mosolwa Mafuma, opened the try fest with when they scored a nine-point try in the 10th minute, however, this is pretty much where it ended for the side from Bloemfontein as Brown dotted down for a nine-pointer of his own less than two minutes later.
Even a late surge by the Shimlas, which saw Boela Venter and Vuyani Maqina each scoring add a little respectability to the score line, was not enough to retain their unbeaten run.
Poor defence and lineouts throughout the game was the order of the day for the Shimlas and it is something that will be high on the agenda as they prepare to tackle the log-leading University of Stellenbosch Maties on Monday at the Cape Town Stadium.
Perhaps being beaten for the first time in nearly two years is a blessing in disguise for Hendro Scholtz’s chargers and now the pressure is off their young shoulders. It’s by no means panic stations yet for the side as they are still second in the standings and looking good to make the play-offs with just two rounds remaining. However, a victory against the unbeaten Maties in the Mother City will be imperative to retain their title.
Meanwhile, Tuks secured a 68-25 win over the Central University of Technology Ixias after coming back from 25-21 down at the half-time break. Maties remains the only unbeaten team in the competition after a 56-12 drubbing over the North West University Pukke, and the NMMU Madibaz notched up their first win with a 46-33 victory over the University of Cape Town Ikeys.
Monday’s fixtures at the Cape Town Stadium:
13:00 – UP-Tuks vs. NMMU Madibaz; 15:00 – UJ vs. UCT Ikeys (TV); 17:00 – NWU-Pukke vs. CUT Ixias (TV); 19:00 – US-Maties vs. UFS-Shimlas (TV).
Standings:
1 US Maties (24 points), 2 UFS Shimlas (19 points), 3 UJ (17 points), 4 NWU-Pukke (16 points), 5 UP-Tuks (13 points), 6 NMMU Madibaz (7 points), 7 CUT Ixias (5 points), 8 UCT Ikeys (3 points).
– MORGAN PIEK
