Varsity Cup heavyweights shine in Round 2

Varsity Cup Round 2 saw Maties produce a dominant second-half display to overturn a half-time deficit and defeat the UJ Orange Army at a packed Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night.

The Maroon Machine ran in five second half tries to seal a convincing home victory in Stellenbosch.

Elsewhere, the NWU Eagles made it two wins from two with a commanding victory over newcomers Emeries and defending champions UCT produced a ruthless attacking masterclass to demolish the Ixias at the Green Mile.

Finally, in Bloemfontein, UP-Tuks secured back-to-back Varsity Cup victories with a clinical away win over UFS Shimlas at a rain-soaked Shimla Park.

NWU 63-15 Emeries

The NWU Eagles stormed to a commanding 63-15 victory over Emeris at Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom, producing a dominant performance from the first whistle.

The hosts quickly set the tone with a disciplined defensive display and clinical attacking rugby, outscoring Emeris in the opening half and leaving their opponents struggling to gain any real foothold.

Emeris managed only a single try before the break as the Eagles’ defence proved rock solid, while the home side capitalised on every attacking opportunity.

Wing Therlow Prins, wearing jersey number 11, led the charge with an outstanding try-scoring display, showing pace, power, and composure to repeatedly break through the Emeris defensive line.

Emeris came out in the second half determined to fight back, crossing for two quick tries in succession, but their momentum was short-lived.

NWU Eagles quickly regained control, dominating possession and territory while maintaining their relentless attacking pressure.

Prins completed his hat-trick, further cementing his impact on the game, while the rest of the Eagles’ forwards and backs combined seamlessly to close out a dominant performance.

By the final whistle, the Eagles had left no doubt as to their superiority, delivering a comprehensive and emphatic victory that will boost confidence for the remainder of the Varsity Cup season.

Player of the Match: Therlow Prins (NWU) 

Maties 39-19 UJ

Maties bounced back in style on Monday night, defeating UJ 39-19 in front of a packed Danie Craven Stadium awash in maroon.

After last week’s defeat to UFS Shimlas, the hosts showed resilience and composure to overcome a determined Orange Army outfit who arrived high on confidence following their win over Emeries.

UJ struck first momentum through a powerful rolling maul finished by Kamo Molefe, before captain Thabang Mphafi extended their lead to hand the visitors a 16-8 half-time advantage.

Earlier, Maties winger Rynhardt van der Linden had broken the deadlock after sustained pressure, while flyhalf Christiaan van Heerden Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with the boot.

The second half belonged to the home side.

CJ Marx ignited the comeback early, and hooker CJ Erasmus powered over from close range to edge Maties ahead.

From there, the momentum swung firmly.

Mckyle Volmink dotted down in the corner before centre Ryan Manuel produced a classy finish to stretch the lead.

Captain Ezekiel Ngobeni capped off a commanding final quarter with a powerful try, sealing an emphatic 39-19 victory and a much-needed response from the Stellenbosch outfit.

Player of the Match: CJ Marx (Maties) 

UCT Ikeys 83-34 CUT

An absolute try-fest unfolded at the Green Mile as UCT Ikeys ran riot over visiting CUT.

A total of 17 tries were scored in Cape Town, keeping the fans entertained and on the edge of their seats.

The defending champions were intent on bouncing back from their defeat on the road in the opening round and flexed their muscles against the visitors who had hopes of silencing the home support.

UCT opened the scoring with a Point of Origin Try courtesy of Aidan Norris inside two minutes with Alex Vermeulen adding the conversion.

The visitors then hit back with two tries to silence the home support and take the lead but that was short lived as Matthew Beckett gave his side the lead just before the half hour mark.

Connor Jack Gordon made sure the defending champions went into the break with an 11-point lead as he dotted down after the hooter sounded.

The second period kicked off in the same fashion as the first as the Ikey Tigers crossed the whitewash in the early exchange, courtesy of another seven-point score by Aidan Norris.

Jack Benade got himself on the scoresheet with UCT’s fourth Point of Origin try a few moments later, sending them into a 39-12 lead.

Kehan Myburgh gave CUT a flickering of belief by dotting down but his side failed to gain an advantage after exercising their right to Tap after the try.

From that moment onwards, the hosts stepped on the gas and refused to look back. The Ikey Tigers looked threatening with every attack and went on to outscore their visitors by six tries to three in the final 28-minutes.

Just like the first half, UCT dotted down after the hooter sounded to kickstart their season with an emphatic 83-34 victory on their own turf.

Player of the Match: Jack Benade (UCT) 

UFS Shimlas 22-38 UP-Tuks

UP-Tuks claimed back-to-back wins in the Varsity Cup after beating UFS Shimlas 38-22 at a rain-soaked Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.

The wet and slippery conditions, more reminiscent of a European game, made expansive rugby nearly impossible, turning the contest into a gritty battle of attrition dominated by the forwards.

UFS Shimlas struck first when tighthead prop Ongeziwe Mobo powered over for the opener, but their lead didn’t last long.

The Striped Generation hit back through sustained pressure, with Chad-Lee Valentine barging over. Matters worsened for the hosts soon after, as captain and flyhalf Bradley Giddy was forced off with an injury – a setback that clearly disrupted their rhythm.

The key difference in the first half came from the boot of Divan du Toit, who slotted three long-range penalties to give Tuks a 16-7 lead at the break.

Shimlas had opportunities of their own but failed to capitalise on their entries into the 22. Opting against taking the points on offer proved costly in the end.

The second half opened up slightly despite the relentless rain continuing to fall.

Captain Dillon Smith, along with Barnard Nortjé and Akhona Kunene, all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, effectively putting the game beyond Shimlas’ reach. Both teams had opportunities to chase extra points during the powerplay, but neither could take advantage.

Ultimately, UP-Tuks were far more clinical inside the 22, while Du Toit’s composed and tactical kicking kept the scoreboard ticking and sustained the pressure when it mattered most.

Varsity Cup Round 3 matches

Monday, 2 March 2026

UJ vs NWU-Eagles, UJ Stadium – 16:45

UP-Tuks vs Maties, Tuks Stadium – 19:00

CUT vs UFS-Shimlas, CUT Stadium – 19:00

Emeris vs UCT Ikeys, Emeris Durban North – 19:00