Varsity Cup leaders Shimlas await UCT
• Maties are up against unbeaten defending champions Pukke
Shimlas are setting the pace in the Varsity Cup with maximum points collected from their first two outings.
The Bloemfontein students beat league returnees Wits and hammered UJ of Johannesburg in their own back yard, scoring six tries in the process.
Now they face UCT at home on Monday. It should be a walk in the park for the frontrunners.
Ikeys had to dig deep to beat Free State minnows CUT 21-12.
Victory at the Green Mile was achieved off the final play of an otherwise error-ridden affair ,thanks to an 85m try. It ended an eight-game losing streak for the Cape side after they had lost their opener against NMMU Madibas quite badly.
Maties, who have yet to hit top gear, welcome the defending champions, the unbeaten Pukke, to the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday (live on SuperSport — 7pm kick-off) and the sell-out crowd should be in for an exciting match.
The physical packs could well decide the outcome.
The Boland hosts, who began their campaign with a narrow loss to Tuks, have an experienced back seven who love to run and express themselves. Craig Barry (fullback), Duncan Saal (right wing), Edwill van der Merwe (left wing) and Ernst Stapelberg (flyhalf) are experienced at this level and given half a chance could well send the visitors back to Potchefstroom with their tail firmly between their legs.
That said, Pukke destroyed league contenders NMMU Madibas 37-7 last week and will arrive in Stellenbosch feeling bullish about their chances of making it three wins in a row.
As for the remaining two fixtures on the day: Tukkies are away to the Madibas of the Eastern Cape while Wits are at home to CUT.
They have not lifted the Varsity Cup trophy in six years, but Maties are still the most successful team in the competition, which is now in its 10th edition, with six final appearances and three titles to their name.
The men from Stellenbosch won the first edition in 2008 and completed back-to-back victories for the hat-trick in 2010. Then a drought set in and it was left to their arch-rivals, UCT, to cash in with titles won in 2011 and 2014. Tukkies of Pretoria beat Maties in finals in 2012 and 2013.
Shimlas of the Free State were top dogs in 2015.
In 2016 NWU-Pukke, who were contesting their third final in a row, came good in beating Maties 7-6 on their home field at the Danie Craven Stadium for their maiden triumph.