PICS: #VarsityCup: Round five - it's a wrap

Published Feb 26, 2018

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DURBAN – Heading into the latest round of Varsity Cup action, there was every chance for Wits to make a real statement in a season that has seen them as a bit of surprise package.

Facing off in the top-of-the-table clash on Monday, the visiting Maties side would have been relieved with a two-point lead, with Wits scoring in the final play, but the drama unwound after the whistle.

Wits, trailing by nine points with two minutes to go, kicked off from the halfway line and began a long and sustained attack on the Maties line.

The attack was slow, and the Stellenbosch side managed to peg back their opponents, but they never lost the ball.

Then, a break through the defence and an offload to Wits fullback Tyrone Green saw Wits score under the posts, but fall agonizingly two points short.

However, on review, it was deemed that Wits had scored a seven-point try due to the try being scored off the halfway line, from the kickoff.

The game ended as a 30-30 draw, with the spoils being shared and the gap at the top staying at four points.

In the night’s other results, UCT hosted the defending, but struggling, champions Tuks and managed to sink them in a 23-13 win in Cape Town.

Tuks have now stretched their losing streak in this year’s competition to four games and remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

For UCT though, the win sees them up to third on the log, chasing down Wits, who are now two points ahead in second.

The Madibaz are another team that remain winless through their four games this season, losing at home to Pukke in a massive 37-5 rout.

The final game of the night was a big win for UJ away from home as they hammered the Free State side Shimlas 49-12.

However, it was not enough for UJ to get ahead of Shimlas, sitting in sixth, three points behind.

Next week there is a massive clash as the Maties host their rivals from the big city, UCT, at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Maties have broken their winning streak, and UCT will sense a chance to capitalise as third take on first.

@DarrynJack216

 

IOL Sport

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