Varsity Cup
Maties go through unbeaten
2010-03-15 18:56
Email | Print
Josh Strauss (Varsity Cup Photo)
|
Potchefstroom - The Maties on Monday beat a resilient NWU-Pukke side 33-17 in the final round of the FNB Varsity in Potchefstroom to become the first team to go through the league phases unbeaten.
But it was not easy as the Pukke came back from a 16-6 deficit just before halftime to trail by only two points at 19-17 after the third quarter.
An intercept try by Maties centre Charl Weideman after the final whistle saw the final score distorted to 33-17 in a match that produced some outstanding rugby between last year's finalists.
Playing for a second place on the log and a home semi-final, the Pukke were competitive in the first half but squandered too many opportunities through poor options or unsure handling. The Pukke nevertheless remained strongly in contention until they conceded a well-worked converted try three minutes before the break.
That try let the Maties increase their lead to 16-6, but the Pukke pulled back three points through a penalty on the siren.
At 16-9 the Maties halftime lead was probably a fair reflection of a good match where the visitors had slightly the better of the first half.
The Maties' greater continuity in the first half continued for the first six minutes after the break. The pressure led to the fourth successful penalty by the Maties' Man of the Match Andre Kemp, a flyhalf with a good boot and that rare combination of vision and time to execute who controlled the game beautifully.
At 19-9 the visitors seemed to be pulling away, but when Theuns Kotze kicked his fourth penalty after 50 minutes, the Pukke suddenly sparked at 19-12.
However, playing behind the advantage line and continued breakdowns because of poor finishing and unsure handling kept costing the home side despite a number of sorties into opposition territory. But they were not to be denied when after 60 minutes the pack drove and mauled over from a lineout with captain Stoffel Duvenage the man in possession. Kotze's missed conversion left the Maties in front at 19-17.
With their forwards now in control in broken play, Pukke then produced some dangerous runs. However, the Maties class shone through when they exploited an unmarked area behind the ruck with winger Willem Look getting the bounce to score in the corner.
Kemp converted to make it six from six and 26-17 after 65 minutes.
It was cruel for the Pukke when, in possession, the final siren sounded just for Weideman to intercept nearly 50 metres out. Kemp added a further two points to bring his tally to 18 and the final score to 33-17.
Scorers:
NWU-Pukke:
Try: Stoffel Duvenage.
Penalties: Theuns Kotze (4).
Maties:
Tries: Josh Strauss, Willem Loock, Charl Weideman.
Conversions: Andre Kemp (3).
Penalties: Kemp (4).