The 2019 Varsity 7s tournament got underway on Friday morning at Pirates Rugby Club and the ‘big dogs’ immediately showed their proverbial teeth.
The 12 men’s teams arrived bright and early, but seemed ready for action as enterprising 7s rugby was on display.
TUKS AND KOVSIES DOMINATE GROUP A OPENERS
No more so than during the tournament opener when UP-Tuks made short work of UFH. The defending champions ran out 55-0 winners to show that they will be the team to beat.
Kovsies, who only finished sixth last year, did much the same by running rampant against Wits. The final score in that clash read 53-5 and it was clear that Group A will come down to a decider between the men from the capital and the Free Staters.
GROUP B FAR TIGHTER
Group B is arguably the toughest to call of the three at Pirates Rugby Club this weekend and it showed in the opening results.
Last year’s runners-up, are favoured to top the group with perennial Varsity 7s underachievers UCT made them work for their opening win. UJ held a slender 14-12 lead at half-time, however the Capetonians couldn’t get on the scoreboard in the second while the Orange Army did to claim a 21-12 win.
Meanwhile, NWU surprised last year’s third-placed team, Madibaz, when they faced off. NWU often reach Varsity 7s semi-finals, but are yet to crack a final.
However, the North-West University boys showed that they want to right that by winning 24-5.
‘CAPE’ GROUP DELIVERS INTRIGUE
The tightest Round 1 match of the morning came when Maties (winners in 2012, 2013 and 2016) faced WSU, who’ve never finished higher than 10th. Maties held a 14-0 advantage at half-time but a game WSU outfit fought back in the second and only just ran out of time, allowing the Maroon Machine to sneak home 21-19.
That result handed the group advantage to UWC, who overcame their neighbours CPUT with a 17-0 margin.
VARSITY 7S ROUND 1 RESULTS
UP-Tuks 55 UFH 0
Kovsies 53 Wits 5
UJ 21 UCT 12
Madibaz 5 NWU 24
Maties 21 WSU 19
UWC 17 CPUT 0
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