FNB UCT fought back from a 12-point deficit to claim a bonus-point win against FNB NWU at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds.

The hosts dominated the set pieces and controlled the game for much of the first half. Flyhalf Nivan Petersen contributed 16 points from the kicking tee as NWU took a commanding 26-14 lead into the break.

The Ikeys improved at the scrum and lineout in the second stanza and managed to draw level with the Eagles as the end of the game approached. They may have taken the lead several times at the death if not for three missed goal attempts.

The match was decided in the final minute, when Ikeys replacement Duran Koevort pounced on a loose ball and raced away to score a point-of-origin (seven-point) try, and Kyle Bowman rubbed salt into the hosts' wounds with his conversion, which denied the Eagles a losing bonus point.

Scorers:

FNB NWU Eagles – Tries: Heinz Bertram, Riaan Genis. Conversions: Nivan Petersen (2). Penalties: Petersen (4).

FNB UCT Ikeys – Tries: Suleiman Hartzenberg (POR), Rihaz Fredericks, William Rose, Seth Christian, Duran Koevort (POR). Conversions: David Hayes (2), Kyle Bowman.

The match between FNB Maties and FNB Tuks in Pretoria was a proper humdinger, with replacement hooker Sean Swart scoring a 70th-minute try which gave the visitors a 19-9 win at Tuks Stadium.

Maties dominated possession and territory but weren’t able to take their try-scoring chances in the first half. They relied on captain Adriaan van der Bank to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with opposite number Jandré Burger also kicking three penalties to make it 9-9.

The visitors' bold decision to kick a late penalty to touch instead of at goal paid off as they won the lineout and Swart rumbled over the try-line. Replacement Jurie Mathee kicked the conversion and added an 80th-minute penalty to seal the win.

Scorers:

FNB Maties – Try: Sean Swart. Conversion: Jurie Mathee. Penalties: Adriaan van der Bank (3), Mathee.

FNB UP-Tuks – Penalties: Jandré Burger (3)

FNB UFS Shimlas showed their attacking teeth when they ran in eight tries against FNB UWC in Bellville to record a comfortable 56-16 win which shot them to the top of the standings.

The visitors were utterly relentless, scoring five unanswered tries in the first half, while discipline was a problem for the hosts as UWC conceded a number of penalties, two yellow cards, as well as a penalty try.

Shimlas stretched their lead to 42 points before UWC finally troubled the scorers. Despite a late fightback by the hosts, the visitors still managed to rack up a half-century of points.

Scorers:

FNB UWC – Tries: Justin Theys, Peter Williams (POR). Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (2).

FNB UFS Shimlas – Tries: Nathan Jordan, Ruwald van der Merwe, Litha Nkula (POR), Janco Klinck (POR), penalty try, Thabo Ndimande, Cham Zondeki (POR), Kwezi Dlamini. Conversions: Litha Nkula (4).

FNB Wits got their 2022 campaign off to a flying start when they put five tries past the FNB Madibaz for a 31-20 victory at Wits Rugby Stadium.

The underdogs from Gqeberha competed well in the initial stages and led 6-5 after 23 minutes thanks to two Chadwyn November penalties.

The complexion of the game changed, however, after Warwick Griffin was shown a yellow card in the 31st minute. Wits scored two tries while the Madibaz tighthead was in the sin bin. By half-time, they had amassed a 19-6 lead.

Restored to 15 men, the visitors fought back in the early stages of the second half. They failed to maintain that effort, however, as the contest moved into the final quarter.

Wits reasserted their dominance, scoring two quick tries to secure the victory as well as the bonus point for four tries or more.

Scorers:

FNB Wits – Tries: Prince Mulea, Setshaba Mokoena (POR), Charles Gamhiwa, Azi Afrika, Lindokuhle Ncusane. Conversions: Chris Humphries (2).

FNB Madibaz – Tries: Khakalethu Bophi (2). Conversions: Chadwyn November, Sibalomzi Mqeni. Penalties: Chadwyn November (2)

FNB UJ withstood a committed FNB CUT fightback to claim a 44-42 win at CUT Rugby Stadium in Bloemfontein, but after an appeal by the Free Staters, one of their tries was changed to a seven-point (POR) try, and the result was changed to a draw (44-44).

Scorers:

FNB CUT Ixias – Tries Tiaan Drotske, Ulrich Stander (POR), Teboho Rampai, Jacquin van Wyk, Jan Kotze, penalty try. Conversions: Floris Brand (5).

FNB UJ – Tries: Johannes Terblanche (2), Philip Apea-Adu, Brendon Pawson, Hloni Mphuthi, CJ Masuku. Conversions: Jonathan Viljoen (4). Penalties: Viljoen (2)

FNB Varsity Cup Round 2 fixtures (21 February): 

  • UCT Ikeys vs UJ (17:00, UCT Rugby Fields, SuperSport channel 211)
  • UFS Shimlas vs Maties (19:00, Shimla Park, SuperSport channel 211)
  • Madibaz vs UP Tuks (19:00, Madibaz Stadium)
  • NWU Eagles vs UWC (19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds)
  • Wits vs CUT Ixias (19:00, Wits Rugby Stadium)