Cape Town - Maties will play in their first Varsity Cup final since 2013 after they romped to a 49-11 semi-final win over Tuks in Stellenbosch on Monday night.
Maties will host Pukke from North-West University, who will play in their third successive championship decider, next Monday, April 11 at the Danie Craven Stadium.
Coach Hawies Fourie will be elated in his first season in charge of Maties as his side ran in four tries – including one worth seven points – to the lone nine-pointer from Tuks centre Dries Swanepoel.
Flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg had an excellent night with the boot, slotting five conversions and four penalties for a 22-point haul.
It was the Stellenbosch forwards who steam-rolled over the Tuks pack, with two tries coming from mauls off five metre lineouts after penalties were kicked into touch. On both occasions in each half, experienced lock Wilhelm van der Sluys took a clean catch and captain Beyers de Villiers fell over the line.
But they set the tone early on with a terrific touchdown from left wing Edwill van der Merwe, who rounded off following an unbelievable pick-up and pass from the floor by tighthead prop JE van der Merwe.
Soon afterwards Maties took the ball through a number of phases in a relentless attacking foray as the home side played with great precision, which saw right wing Brandon Asher-Wood virtually walk over the line.
University of Pretoria’s Tuks hit back before halftime when right wing Riaan Britz won the kickoff and broke through the Maties defence, and the ball eventually found its way to Swanepoel, who crashed over for a nine-point try as the move started inside Tuks’ half.
De Villiers, though, cancelled out that score when he dotted down for the first of his two tries from a maul to hand Maties a 29-11 halftime lead.
Ten minutes after the break, the Stellenbosch outfit secured victory when De Villiers went over for a second time.
Earlier in Johannesburg, Pukke dispatched University of Johannesburg 35-7, with fullback Rhyno Smith collecting 16 points with the boot, while right wing Sylvian Mahuza scored a brace.
POINTS-SCORERS
Maties
5-point Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Beyers de Villiers (2), Remu Malan.
7-point Try: Brandon Asher-Wood.
Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (5). Penalties: Stapelberg (4).
Tuks
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