The Stellenbosch side snatched victory at the final whistle after Wits had mounted an impressive fightback in the fourth round of the annual university rugby competition.
Maties flyhalf Jurie Matthee broke Wits fans’ hearts when he scored a last kick penalty for a narrow 56-54 win in the Varsity Cup match at the Wits Rugby Stadium on March 13.
Wits flanker Mark Snyman opened the scoring with a try giving the home side an early 7-0 lead after a successful conversion. However, Maties fought back, scoring a try of their own as well as a penalty to give them a slender 10-7 lead.
Maties continued to apply the pressure taking a 40-19 lead in a high-scoring first half. Wits fought back in the second half, scoring four tries and getting a penalty in the 77th minute which they converted to give themselves a 1-point lead with three minutes to play. However, Maties snatched victory with the last-minute penalty.
“[It] seemed like a good game. It was a close one,” said Ndumiso Dlamini, a second-year BSc student who was part of the small crowd that attended the match after Wits SRC threats to disrupt the game. “I was obviously expecting a win from the boys, but I mean it’s a take-it-a-game-at-a-time, so hopefully they gonna be back next week stronger than ever away at UCT, get the win and hopefully get to the semis even the finals this year.”
Wits will play UCT Ikeys next on March 20 in Cape Town.
FEATURED IMAGE: File
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