Maties have a chance to win silverware, says Barry

Craig Barry is one of the most experienced players of Varsity Cup rugby and the Maties fullback would dearly like to sign off this chapter of his life with a title, something that has eluded his grasp up to now.

The Paul Roos Gymnasium old boy made his debut for Maties in 2013 and the students from Stellenbosch went on to make the final for the fifth time and were chasing a fourth title, having won the first three editions from 2008-10.

The final was against one of the old enemies in the form of Tuks of Pretoria University, who had to make the trip down to the Cape for the showdown. And what a one-sided result it turned out to be with Tuks’ Currie Cupladen side romping to a 44-5 victory for their second title on the bounce.

A baptism of fire that Barry had to endure and one he prefers left in the memory bank. He would get another chance to play for the prized silverware last season, on home soil once again, at Danie Craven Stadium. This time against Pukke of Potchefstroom, who were chasing a maiden title in their third straight final appearance.

And once again Barry would taste defeat in a narrow 7-6 loss in front of 17,000 spectators.

Maybe this will be the 24- year-old’s year to celebrate. There is still some way to go in the competition, but as things stand in the round-robin phase, Maties are top of the table through six rounds with five wins and a loss registered ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with Shimlas at Free State Stadium on Monday (7pm kickoff). Barry is taking over the captaincy for this encounter.

Last weekend’s demolition job over fierce rivals the Ikey Tigers (47-16) was evidence enough to suggest that the maroon machine are on track to go all the way. Barry thinks so. “We’re hitting all the right notes and the boys, many of whom (15) like me are in their final years of studies and want to end off their Varsity Cup career’s with a title to go with those hard-earned degrees.

“A non-negotiable as far as we’re concerned.

“We don’t want to be the class of 2017 who won nothing but memories,” said Barry, who has set his sights on playing Super Rugby for first-choice franchise the Stormers or any other interested party.

Barry has scored nine tries in total in the Varsity Cup, many of them solo-efforts.

He scored a real gem against Ikeys and assisted in another during the one-sided affair at the Green Mile. Maties are targeting a victory at the venue for the first time since 2013.

Shimlas will, however, pose a huge threat.

The men from Bloemfontein find themselves in second place on the nine-team standings, level on log points with Maties but trailing on inferior points differential.

They come into Monday’s match full of confidence after easily seeing off Pukke 35-23 last Monday for their fifth win (one loss) of the campaign.

But they would be wise not to try to take on Maties in the tight physical exchanges, especially being smaller in the forwards department.

Their best chance may be to try to open up the contest and let their talented back seven deliver the goods.

Left-winger Marco Mason (three tries, 11 conversions and six penalties) is Shimmies’ leading points scorer this season as well as the competition’s with 55.

Then again, Maties’ backs are a lively lot with plenty of tries scored by most of them.

They got six of the seven against Ikeys, with Barry the first over the whitewash.

● Monday’s remaining fixtures (home teams first): Tuks v CUT (4.45pm kickoff — live on SuperSport); Pukke v Wits (7pm kickoff — live on SuperSport); UJ v NMMU Madibas.