Maties and UCT will go into round three of the Varsity Cup tonight seeking the same result, but for different reasons. Unbeaten log-leaders, the Stellenbosch students could increase their one-point lead over Shimlas on the standings if they streak to a high-scoring win against Tuks at the Danie Craven Stadium (kick-off 7pm).
For the winless Ikeys, in sixth place, the motivation for beating Pukke at the Green Mile (kick-off 6.30pm) is based on the need to decrease the five-point gap between them and the top four.
Tuks and Pukke are unlikely to be too sympathetic with their Cape rivals. The two-time champions from Pretoria have started their season with back-to-back defeats at home, losing out in a 47-46 thriller against Shimlas last week after opening with a 38-15 reverse against Pukke.
And the team from Potchefstroom, three-times runners-up, got a taste of what it’s like to lose at home when they went down 36-31 against UJ last week.
Maties sneaked past NMMU in Port Elizabeth in round two after whitewashing CUT 40-0. The Ixias made an impressive recovery from the drubbing in Stellenbosch to edge UCT 10-9 last week, compounding the Ikeys’ misery after they had opened with a 23-17 loss in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, three plays two in the fifth round of the Varsity Shield as UWC come back from a bye to face Wits in Johannesburg.Chester Williams’ team played with confidence on the road to produce a 21-15 win against TUT in round three, and the legendary Springbok wing has consequently kept the faith with his players, making just one change to the lineup – Aidynn Cupido replaces flyhalf Aubrey Melikhaya.
Williams is hoping that this match settles a long-standing stalemate as both of the last two contests between UWC and Wits ended in a draw. - Cape Times