Cape Town - The NMMU Madibaz outclassed UCT's Ikeys 36-8 at Florida Park in Ravensmead in their Varsity Cup opener on Monday night.
Former Dale College player Andile Jho scored a brace as the Madibaz outscored their opponents by five tries to one. The Madibaz scored three unanswered first half tries on their way to securing a comfortably win.
A relentless onslaught from the visiting side saw them cross the whitewash five times while Ikeys only managed eight points.
Lovu Claasen and Kevin Kaba got over for two five-pointers while left winger Jixie Molapo burnt the defence to dot down for a seven-pointer, which originated in the Madibaz own half.
The visitors dominated the opening half, both scrums and lineouts bossed by the Madibaz. Lock pairing of Wynand Grassman and Gerrit Huisamen gave problems to the Ikeys loose trio of captain Jason Klaasen, Luke Stringer and Nyasha Tarusenga.
The men from Port Elizabeth continued where they left off in the first half. After a brilliant passage of play from the home side, a turnover allowed the speeding Molapo to race in for a score under the upright.
After some constant pressure from Ikeys it seemed like they would claw their way back into the match. The build-up to the Hablutzel’s try shifted the momentum in the favour of the home team. It was however short-lived as the Madibaz resolve held firm. Just before and immediately after the second half strategy break, the match seemed to reach a stalemate as no team managed to add any points to the 31-8 scoreline.
Speedster Jho sealed his brace minutes before the final whistle, as the Madibaz claimed the Monty Taljaard trophy after a well-deserved victory.
Player That Rocks: Kevin Kaba (Madibaz)
Scorers:
UCT
Tries: Cuan Hablutzel
Penalties: Lohan Lube
Madibaz
Tries: Andile Jho (2), Jixie Molapo, Lovu Claassen, Kevin Kaba
Conversions: Simon Bolze (3)
Penalties: Bolze
Teams:
UCT-Ikeys
15 Rob Anderson, 14 Seb Roodt, 13 Suwi Chibale, 12 Rico Lategan, 11 Joel Smith, 10 Lohan Lube, 9 Stef de Gouveia, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Jason Klaassen (captain), 5 Duncan Saffy, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Substitutes: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 Marty Chandler, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazebuko, 19 Nama Xaba, 20 Sanele Malwane, 21 Hilio de Abreu, 22 Ibbie Adams, 23 Jez Mcintyre
NMMU-Madibaz
15 Lindelwe Zungu, 14 Ivan-John du Preez, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Jixie Molapo, 10 Simon Bolze, 9 Lovu Claassen, 8 Kevin Kaba (captain), 7 Lusanda Badiyana, 6 Stephanus Nieuwoudt, 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Wynand Grassmann, 3 Nicolas Roebeck, 2 JP Jamieson, 1 Xandre Vos.
Substitutes: 16 Jedwin Harty, 17 Tembelihle, 18 Janse Roux, 19 Henry Brown, 20 Rouche Nel, 21 Thomas Kean, 22 Luan Nieuwoudt, 23 Daniel Voigt