Cape Town - Two late bonus points saw NWU-Pukke sneak into the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semi-finals ahead of Maties on points difference.
Last year's beaten finalists will face table-toppers FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria next week, while defending champions UCT will travel to Bloemfontein to take on the unbeaten UFS-Shimlas in the other semi-final.
Three-time champions Maties romped to a comprehensive 53-8 victory over winless CUT in Bloemfontein, but it was not enough in the end as they miss the play-offs for just the second time in the history of the competition.