CAPE TOWN – Three out of four hosts in the opening round of the FNB Varsity Cup used their home ground advantage to the utmost on Monday, with UCT, UP-Tuks and Maties scoring victories.
UCT hosted newcomers UWC at the Green Mile for the opening Varsity Cup match in a tense tug-of-war game, with the Ikey Tigers securing a 32-24 win.
UP-Tuks were made to work hard for their 23-6 (halftime 8-3) victory against the CUT Ixias in their Round One clash at the Tuks Rugby Stadium.
Maties battled past a fierce Wits team at the Danie Craven in Stellenbosch, winning 33-17.
NWU withstood UJ and the rain as they emerged victorious in their season-opener, winning 23-8 at UJ Rugby Stadium in the only match where the visiting team could claim a victory.
WATCH: UWC fullback Tristan Leyds is gutted after the close opening loss to UCT but calls on all at UWC to pack out Bellville Stadium next week for "uDubs" first home game! @IOLsport @UWCSport @varsitycup pic.twitter.com/5AuVrbI5gW
— Zaahier Adams (@ZaahierAdams) February 4, 2019
Scorers in the four matches (HT score in brackets):
UCT 32 (14): Tries: Tumi Mogoje (5 point try), Stef de Gouveia (5 point try), Cuan Hablutzel (7 point try), Michael Brink (7 point try). Conversions: Darian Hock (4)
UWC 24 (7): Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse (5 point try), Tristan Leyds (5-point try), Andre Manuel (5 point try). Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (3). Penalty: Lyle Hendricks (1).
UP-Tuks 23 (8): Tries: Stephan Smit, Ciaran Dayaram, Wian van Niekerk. Penalties: De Beer (2).
CUT 6 (3): Penalties: Marc Morrison, Heinrich Bitzi.
Maties 33 (17): Tries: HJ Luus (2), Logan Boonzaaier (7 point try). Conversations: Jordan Chait (2). Penalties: Chait (4)
Wits 17 (12): Tries: Krappies van den Berg, CJ Conradie (2). Conversations: Christian Humphries
UJ 8 (0): Tries: Cyprian Nkomo. Penalty: Jeanluc Cilliers.
NWU 23 (14): Tries: Louis Van Der Westhuizen, Pienaar Van Niekerk, Lungelo Gosa. Conversions: Schalk Hugo (3).