Cape Town - Replacement scrumhalf Jean Nel scored a bizarre try and flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg slotted the angled conversion to hand Maties a dramatic 27-25 Varsity Cup victory over NMMU in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
Maties led 17-6 after hooker Craig Corbett crashed over from a five-metre lineout drive, and with a strong wind behind them, the Stellenbosch side looked well on course to record a second comfortable victory after their 40-0 thrashing of CUT in Bloemfontein last week.
But in a match marred by several baffling decisions from the referee, his assistants and the TMO, the NMMU outfit managed to cut down on their handling errors in the second half.
One flowing backline move saw No 8 Kevin Kaba bash his way over in the left-hand corner, but despite replays clearly showing that the NMMU loose forward made a double movement as he was tackled short of the tryline, referee Sindile Ngcese and TMO Christie du Preez awarded the seven-point touchdown to take the score to 17-13 in Maties’ favour.
The Stellenbosch side’s first try was also a controversial call, as outside centre Paul Streicher was brought down a few metres short of the NMMU line, and while it appeared as if he made a double movement, referee Ngcese ruled in the affirmative.
Maties pivot Stapelberg put over a penalty to stretch the lead to 20-13 going into the final quarter of the match, but the visitors didn’t reckon with exciting NMMU left wing Yamkela Ngam - younger brother of former Proteas fast bowler Mfuneko - who darted across the whitewash for a seven-point try to level the scores at 20-20.
Even though the Stellenbosch pack dominated throughout, the NMMU forwards got a shot in the arm from replacement prop Marzuq Maarman - a giant at around 130kg - and utility forward Andisa Ntsila. They both carried the ball strongly and burst through a few tackles up the middle to bring the NMMU Madibaz back inside the Maties.
The hard work paid off with five minutes to go when Maarman blasted his way over off a tap penalty to put NMMU back into the lead at 25-20.
But in the dying seconds, Maties camped inside the NMMU 22, but appeared to lose the ball when going over the line. The ball suddenly popped out off the ground into the arms of Nel, who dived over a pile of bodies and grabbed a five-pointer.
Then it was all up to Stapelberg with the conversion 10 metres in from the right-hand touchline, and the former WP Under-21 left-footer showed nerves of steel to send the ball sailing through the posts.
Points-Scorers(Tries 5 points unless stated)
NMMU- Tries: Kevin Kaba (7), Yamkela Ngam (7), Marzuq Maarman. Penalties: Simon Bolze (2).
Maties- Tries: Paul Streicher, Beyers de Villiers, Craig Corbett, Jean Nel. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (2). Penalty: Stapelberg (1).
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