If FNB CUT Ixias want to avoid relegation to the FNB Varsity Shield in 2023, they are approaching the point in the Varsity Cup where they need nothing short of a miracle.

After round five of this year’s competition, the Ixias still need their first win of the season, after losing emphatically to FNB Maties by 19-52 on Monday evening, 14 March 2022. The visitors lead by a massive 47-0 at half time.

Scoring 7 tries to the 3 of the Central University of Technology, Stellenbosch University dictated all aspects of the game in the first half, earning their try-bonus point within the first half-hour on a cold, wet field in Bloemfontein. To cap it all, three of the Matie tries were “point of origin”-tries, adding 7 points per try each.

CUT showed some promising fightback spirit in the second half, scoring all their points in this half, while Maties only managed 5 points after half time. So, the second half ended 19-5 in favour of the home side.

Maties dominated possession and territory for most of the match, and CUT’s ill-discipline again cost them dearly, mainly in the first 40 minutes.

The final score: FNB Maties 52 – FNB CUT 19.

Scorers

FNB Maties

Tries: Sean Swart (2), Sibabalwe Xamalashe (2), Brendan Venter, Marcqiewn Titus and Nevaldo Fleurs. (Three ‘points of origin -tries)

Conversions: Fleurs (4)

Penalty: Fleurs.

Red Card: James Combrinck (59^th minute)

FNB Ixias

Tries: Luvuyo Ndevu (2) and Septimus Derkesen

Conversions: Zinedene Booysen (2)

Player that Rocks: Sean Swart (Maties)

The remainder of the season for the  FNB Ixias, shows little room to relax. Assuming they would dearly love at least one victory from the final four matches, plus some bonus points to bag, they need to find their mojo somewhere in their three away fixtures (against FNB Tuks (in 4^th place on the log this coming Monday, 21 March 2022), FNB UWC (currently in 9^th place on 28 March 2022), FNB UCT Ikeys (who is at the top of the log on 11 April 2022), or their only remaining home match, against FNB NWU Eagles (7^th on the log on 4 April 2022).

Current FNB VC Log (5 rounds)

• Ikeys: 21
• Maties: 20
• Shimlas : 17
• Tuks: 15
• UJ: 15
• Wits: 15
• NWU Eagles: 13
• Madibas: 7
• UWC: 6
• CUT Ixias: 5

Caption

Due to the rain on Monday, 14 March 2022, we share the start of the 2022 season on 14 February, when FNB Ixias played FNB UJ at the CUT Rugby Stadium.

Written by: Carel Korff

Uploaded: 16 March 2022