An impressive attacking display from UJ saw the Ikey Tigers’ hopes of finishing in a top-four spot slip further away with only two fixtures remaining before the semi-finals.
The match ended 40-12 in favour of UJ.
The teams went into the first strategy break on equal terms, but it was UJ who drew first blood as Johan Esterhuizen crossed the line.
The try was converted, and UJ went on to spread the ball wide after a period of pressure, allowing Curtley Adams to cross the line unchallenged. The try was converted, giving UJ an 18-0 lead over UCT at halftime.
The Ikey Tigers came out in the second half determined to make up the gap in points, scoring a seven-point try through Gerard Pieterse.
It wasn’t long before Johannes Snyman extended UJ’s lead, with De Villiers crossing the line again seven minutes afterwards, extending their lead to 28-7.
Flyhalf Divan Nel then scored a penalty for UJ, giving them a 19-point lead. The home team didn’t give up though, scoring again through Seb Roodt down the left wing.
After that it was all UJ in the late stages of the game, and a sweeping move in the final minute of the game saw left wing Godfrey Ramaboea score a seven-point try. After Nel converted, the game ended 40-12 to UJ.
* Wits’ exciting young backline thrived on attack in a 30-20 victory over the Madibaz in Johannesburg.
The game got under way with Wits dotting down very early through flank and captain Constant Beckerling, who managed to barge over after a series of attacks.
The visitors then soon hit back with points of their own, when their flyhalf Thomas Kean sent a penalty from over 50m to take the score to 5-3.
Straight after the first strategy break, the Madibaz scored when wing Jixie Malapo dashed past a few defenders for a seven-point try.
The game was tight, with both teams going at each other, but it was Wits that were the next to score through lock Rhyno Herbst.
With the score level at 10-10, pressure shifted back to the home side and the Madibaz crossed over after camping in the Wits 22m area, with the try scored by Henry Brown and converted again by Kean.
With halftime soon approaching, all pressure was on Wits, which they eventually managed to turn into a try that saw both teams go into the break deadlocked at 17-17.
The second half saw less action than the first, with Madibaz only managing three points from the boot of Kean.
The home side also added a further 13 points to their score, thanks to the boot of substitute flyhalf and captain Warren Gilbert, who had just returned from injury.
* Tuks made light work of Shimlas 65-19 in Bloemfontein to move to the top of the Varsity Cup standings on points difference over Maties, also have 24 log points.
The Tuks backline started brilliantly, finding gaps in the Shimlas defence and wing Sibahle Maxwane dotted down with a seven-point try.
Dewald Naude stretched the score with a five-point try in the 18th minute. Tuks were not done yet and after a brilliant kick from Sibahle Maxwane, he collected the ball and went over for a seven-pointer, taking the game away from the Shimlas at 23-0 after just 21 minutes.
Tuks were all over Shimlas and stretched the score to 37-0 at halftime.
Tuks kept their momentum, forcing phase after phase to send captain Chris Massyn, over for a seven-point try.
Shimlas eventually opened their account 49 minutes into the game when wing Vuyani Maqina rounded the opposition backline and the five-pointer was converted by Marco Mason.
Tuks had the last say in the game when Jan Henning Campher scored a try, taking the fulltime score to 65-19.
* Pukke scored a deserved victory of 43-38 over CUT in Bloemfontein, after they led 31-10 at halftime.
Pukke ran in seven tries to five, but the Ixias fought back valiantly in the second half.
Early in the second half the Ixias fightback began with a great seven-point try by prop Kabous van Schalkwyk – the first of two tries by this mobile forward.
This ignited the home side to score and run the ball with more passion at the defending champions, scoring another three tries in the half.
Ixias were rewarded for their superb play in the second half, scoring 28 points to 12.
* Maties enjoyed a bye on Monday.