DURBAN - Maties continued their stranglehold on the Varsity Cup when they overwhelmed Cape rivals Ikeys 33-14 in Stellenbosch to suitably mark 100 years of rugby at the historic University.
The home side were on top from the word go and it was no surprise when they scored a lovely try after three minutes when centre Chris Smit broke clear to set up a try for Duncan Saal, converted by by Chris Smit.
Then Ikeys No 8 Nyasha Tarusenga butchered a try that would have drawn his side level. He had broken clear from a set scrum and instead of putting his head down and sprinting for the line, he hesitated and looked for support, and was overhauled by the Maties defence.
Salt was rubbed into the wounds for Ikeys when Maties soon after were rewarded for their long presence in the Ikeys 22 when they were awarded a penalty try, for what became a 14-0 lead on 20 minutes.
Maties continued their territorial domination and build up on the Ikeys line resulted in Brendan Nell going over for a try converted by Smit, and when Saal scored soon after, Ikeys were in serious trouble at 21-0 after 30 minutes of play.
And two minutes from the half-time hooter, the writing was on the wall when flank Marno Redelinghuys crashed over from close quarters to give his side a 26-0 half-time lead.
And it was effectively game over when five minutes into the second half, centre Smit broke the line and offloaded for No 8 Janco Venter to charge to the line. Ikeys were never going to come back from 33-0.
There was a response from the visiting forwards when hooker Cuan Hablutzel barged over the line in the 53rd minute, converted by Karl Martin, but at 33-7 the visitors had too much ground to make up. A converted try by Stefano de Gouveia gave the score respectability at 33-14.
In other results, defending champions Tuks were smashed 40-26 by Pukke, UJ routed Madibaz 69-8, and Wits were too good for CUT, to the tune of 52-18.
FULL TIME and @MatiesRugby have claimed bragging right over Cape rivals @ikeytigers in their derby game at the Danie Craven stadium
FNB Maties 33 -14 FNB UCT #FNBVarsityCup11 #MakeTheTeam pic.twitter.com/mcIrrK1tDM