Maties make good start to Varsity Cup campaign

The FNB Maties went to sleep with a smile on their faces last night (6 February) after beating the FNB Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Vikings. The score was 52-2. It was the Maties’ first game in the annual FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, which they have won three times over the last four years.

Try time! The Maties centre, Wessel Coetzee, scores under the posts (Photo: Anton Jordaan)

Maybe it was not the best ever game produced by the Danie Craven Stadium, but the crowd nevertheless enjoyed seeing the Maties score seven tries. TUT Vikings was first on the scoreboard with a penalty kick – in this competition penalty kicks only count two points – but it was also the last time they troubled the scorers.

Although Maties backline threw the ball around them quite easily, they will not be too happy about their handling. Especially in the second half there were a number of blunders. As punishment they had to put in a large number of tackles as TUT showed some good running with the ball. It was the Maties forwards that scored the most tries with lock Grant Hattingh scoring a hat trick and the big prop, aptly named Os Hamman, who burst over the try line twice. Consolation prize for the backs was that centre Wessel Coetzee was named Man of the Match.

In other games the FNB Shimlas of the University of the Free State surprised friend and foe by beating the champions, the FNB Ikeys of the University of Cape Town, 38-10. FNB Tuks (University of Pretoria) beat neighbours FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) 23-8 while the FNB Pukke (Northwest University) had to dig deep to beat the FNB Madibaz of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 26-16.

The Maties’ next game is on Monday 13 February when they take on the Pukke in Potchefstroom.

• See www.varsitycup.co.za for more information.