If the first two rounds of Varsity 7s 2019 action went according to script, then Round 3 delivered some intriguing sub-plots.
Ultimately, the Cup quarter-finals will be the usual protagonists, but how they got there makes Saturday morning’s action unmissable.
KOVSIES BRING UP-TUKS DOWN TO EARTH
Kovsies got out of the blocks first with a hat-trick of quick fire tries to stun defending champions UP-Tuks. The Free Staters also converted all their tries to lead 21-0 at half-time.
UP-Tuks tried to initiate a comeback in the second half but Kovsies scored a fourth try due to a handling error. Kovsies were relentless but UP-Tuks managed to get a consolation try as the match ended 38-5 in favour of the table-toppers.
Meanwhile, the fight for qualification was intense in the final Group A fixture as both teams had a glimmer of hope and the nerves were evident in the opening exchanges. Wits eventually got over the line and startled the nerves as they went into half-time with a 5-0 lead.
Wits further extended their lead with their second try, however with just over two minutes left, UFH scored a try and a possible comeback was on. The game then changed on its head as the side from Free State scored a Powerplay try, worth 10 points, and stole the match at the death with an enthralling 17-10 victory.
UJ CLAIM GROUP B HONOURS AS MADIBAZ SNEAK THROUGH
UJ set the tone early and arguably scored the fastest try of the 2019 Varsity 7s edition and the Orange Army were off to a flyer. The team from Jo’burg later scored two successive tries and got another on the stroke of half-time to go in with a commanding 20-0 advantage.
The second half was a different affair as Madibaz slowly clawed back. The Powerplay activated by Madibaz went on to bite them as it was the opposition that capitalised and scored a 10-point try. The Powerplay clearly changed the dynamic of the game as Madibaz scored a carbon-copy of UJ’s try, by capitalising on the Orange Army’s Powerplay activation. UJ were made to sweat in the closing stages and managed to score at the death to win 39-17 in the game of the round.
Similarly, NWU and UCT had much to play for and the boys from Potch duly showed blistering pace in the early stages and scored two well-worked tries – pouncing on Ikeys’ handling errors. As it happened, NWU would go on to score three tries and two conversions to go into half-time with a 19-0 margin.
Come the second, Ikeys got on the scoresheet for the first time and the match was slowly turning into a proper contest when they touched down again to be within reach with NWU.
However, the boys from North West put the game to bed with a fourth try and another mammoth Powerplay try to win 34-12.
GROUP C GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE
With three Cape teams in one group, there was always going to be feeling in their matches and that was the case when the deciders came around.
Maties took on UWC and it was Maties who took the advantage by scoring early on. However, UWC were not going to be a pushover and replied with a try of their own and scored a vital conversion to lead 7-5 at halftime.
UWC stunned Maties in the opening moments of the second and scored a Powerplay try to see their advantage extended to 19-5. The match was turning into a humdinger as Maties then scored during their Powerplay and the score was 19-15 with two minutes to play.
The crowd were treated to some exhilarating rugby as UWC wouldn’t let Maties breath and ran in another try to extend their margin with a minute to play. Maties, though, fought to the end and scored a try in the final seconds of play but UWC held on 24-22.
If that was dramatic, then the final fixture of day one – between WSU and CPUT – took it up a notch.
CPUT opened the scoring with a try that started in their own half. Walter Sisulu University didn’t lie down, though, and scored a try of their own to make it 7-5. It was becoming end-to-end stuff which exemplifies what the Varsity 7s rugby festival is about as CPUT jotted down for their second try but WSU responded in no time to make it 12-12 going into halftime
The stakes were high going into the second half as both teams could assure qualification for the quarter-finals and CPUT scored a Powerplay try which gave them a slight edge. WSU were now chasing the game and it was try after try in this game as they closed the deficit to make it 22-17. WSU had the chance to win it at the death but a piece of inexperience and showboating saw WSU dropping the ball over the try line with a chance to seal the game and qualification but it was heartbreak at the end as CPUT won 22-17.
VARSITY 7S ROUND 3 RESULTS
UP-Tuks 5 Kovsies 38
Wits 10 UFH 17
UJ 39 Madibaz 17
NWU 34 UCT 12
Maties 22 UWC 24
CPUT 22 WSU 19
VARSITY 7S QUARTER-FINALS
(Saturday, 5 October 2019 at Pirates Club, Greenside)
09:11 Kovsies vs Madibaz
09:33 UJ vs CPUT
09:55 UWC vs UP-Tuks
10:17 NWU vs Maties
By Nkosinathi Shazi
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