FNB Varsity Shield Round 7 saw the FNB Varsity College Comets topping the log and securing their promotion into the FNB Varsity Cup with a win against FNB WSU who picked up a crucial bonus point to move out of relegation danger. FNB Madibaz secured a semi-final place after a victory over FNB CPUT and booked a spot in the FNB Varsity Cup promotion-relegation match while FNB UWC staged a stunning comeback to defeat the Gemmies in a nailbiter. The UKZN Impi finished bottom of the log and will have to decide their fate in a relegation play-off against the top USSA side later in the year.
FNB Varsity College 41-29 FNB WSU
The visiting team, WSU looked like a team playing for their lives and began the game on fire, ending it that way too as they scored the first and last tries of the match.
The first try of the match came through Sibulele Manyube the man which was converted by All Blacks No 10, Isiphe Mbini. A few minutes later, the log leaders, Comets got their momentum going with a try scored by Inside centre Mambo Mkhize, of which their flyhalf Frederick Marx failed to make it a full seven-pointer, taking the score to 7-5 to WSU.
The Comets No 10 made amends of his miss earlier on and scored a try which he converted himself and later assisting a well worked try which he beautifully chip kicked safely into the hands of Allston Cedras.
In between, WSU scored a beautiful penalty by the flyhalf Mbini, as well as one more try from Comets Rober Everson, taking the score to half-time at 24-10 to the home team. Juan Steyl also added his name on the scoreboard before Marx repeated another beautiful chip assist this time to Cade Latham to finish off. The Comets flyhalf score final points for his side through a penalty which he made no mistake with.
The closing of the match saw WSU viciously fighting for their lives, scoring three incredible back-to-back tries through Azasakhe Phuwani, Sipho Hobosch and Ahlule Zokoza.
FNB UKZN 17-36 FNB UFH
With the rain pouring down, relegation zone teams UKZN and UFH locked horns with the visiting taking the victory to finish the season strong.
The match began with a beautiful early try from Bunono Jamani who ran over the whitewash as the Impi forces were still trying to find their feet. Sinalo Jivana converted successfully for the first try. Blues scrumhalf Sinalo Jivan later scored a beautiful penalty from 20 meters away to give his side a further point extension, taking the score to 10-0 to the visitors.
UKZN marked their presence as they also scored a penalty shortly after through Minenhle Ngcamu’s boot taking the score to 10-3 to the visitors.
Another penalty was scored by Jivana in the first 20 minutes before two tries were scored in the game, one from each. For the Impi try, Russel Fick capitalised on some sloppy defensive work by the visitors, while for the Blues try, hooker Jamani completed his brace.
A few minutes from half-time, after some bumper-to-bumper play, Aphelele Dlamini confidently jumped over the try line to dot down for the Impi to try to keep in touch.
At the stroke of half-time, Jivana adde another penalty to take his team to a 23-17 lead at the break. The second half saw the UFH No 9 wrap up the game with two more penalties, with an impressive Anda Simanga scoring try in between.
FNB Madibaz 45-27 FNB CPUT
Everything was on the line in Gqeberha on Friday afternoon as Madibaz targeted second on the Varsity Shield log - securing a home semi-final - and booking a spot in the FNB Varsity Cup promotion-relegation match.
Madibaz passed the test with flying colours and that against one of the form sides of the competition. First blood was drawn by the visitors in the 10th minute, when hooker Kyle Ahrendse dotted down from a rolling maul. Madibaz stayed composed, however, forcing a penalty line-out, perfecting the catch-and-drive and putting Tihalefo Moleko in for his side’s first five-pointer of the afternoon.
With the scores level, Madibaz upped the ante in their forward play and one of their stars of the season, Sean Van Zijl, crossed the line for another try after a powerful maul. The Cape students knew they were up against it but responded in kind with a rolling maul of their own. Left-wing Iwaan Bloys joined the pack and found himself on the right side of the whitewash. Madibaz skipper Leon van der Merwe, never one to miss out on the big moments, then scored on the stroke of half-time, giving the home side a vital lead at the break.
Though CPUT came back into it with a well-struck three-pointer by Matthew Pekeur in the 44th minute, it was that Madibaz pack that rallied again. They proved too much for the CPUT defence which conceded a penalty try. Only five minutes later Madibaz lock Calvin Bosch proved unstoppable five metres out to stretch the Nelson Mandela Bay students’ lead even further.
The result then looked beyond doubt when Kyle Erasmus scored for Madibaz again. The 25-point margin at this stage would prove invaluable. When Madibaz prop was red carded with 20 minutes to play, it gave CPUT the glimmer of hope they needed and they duly responded via a try by Philasande Ngcobo. Three minutes from full-time, they scored another after a great breakout by centre Jacquin Jacobus who went all the way. The clock had already run down when Van Zijl scored his second of the day to give Madibaz a famous win.
FNB SPU 40-57 FNB UWC
Suzuki Park witnessed a dramatic Varsity Shield encounter as SPU stormed to an early lead, only to be overrun by a second-half surge from the UWC, who emerged victorious.
SPU dominated the first half, with Khanya Kama opening the scoring in the 11th minute with a penalty. Bokamosa Maphisa added to the lead in the 15th minute, though the conversion was missed. Despite losing Leslie Ruiters to a yellow card for a deliberate slapdown, SPU continued their momentum. Jan Potgier’s 24th-minute try extended the lead, followed by Thando Shipalana’s score from a rolling maul. By the 28th minute, SPU led 18-0.
UWC fought back through Aaron Swartz, who scored and converted his own try in the 32nd minute. SPU responded with a penalty from Kama before Liyabona Maplanga sprinted the length of the field for a brilliant solo try. At half-time, SPU was firmly ahead, 28-7.
The second half started well for SPU, with Tyron China adding another try, pushing the score to 33-7. However, UWC’s captain, Romauld Nsombamanya, led an incredible comeback. He scored in the 45th, 48th and 52nd minutes, with Swartz converting twice to bring UWC within seven points at 33-26. Melumzi Mandongana’s 58th-minute try, converted by Swartz, levelled the game at 33-33.
UWC then took the lead when Ruiters' second slap-down resulted in a penalty try. Leigh Braaf added another try in the 65th minute and Nsombamanya secured his fourth of the match, making it 52-33. SPU managed one last try but Juma Amisi’s score sealed UWC’s 57-40 victory.
Despite SPU’s early dominance, UWC’s resilience and clinical finishing, led by Nsombamanya and Swartz, secured a remarkable comeback win.
Semi-final fixtures
Semi-final 1: FNB Madibaz v FNB UWC – Friday (2pm) @ Madibaz Stadium
Semi-final 2: FNB Varsity College v FNB CPUT – Friday (4pm) @ Varsity College Durban North
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