Ikey Tigers go down in Intervarsity clash

The Ikeys Tigers came off second best and had to hand the coveted Intervarsity trophy to Maties when they lost to their rivals 36-21 at the Green Mile on Saturday.

It was the first multi sport Intervarsity in nearly 20 years and UCT overall beat their Maties counterparts, with Basketball and Waterpolo honours among other going to the Cape Town students. The rugby match was a fantastic contest in front of a lively and festive crowd on Saturday afternoon and a promising revival of the big Intrervarsity of old. 

But the loss by the defending champions is a dissappointmet for the Ikeys, who won both their matches against Stellenbosch last year and it was a deflated Ikeys coach Kevin Foote who had to admit that Maties had been the better side on the day.

"Until we learn to mature in our play we will continue to lose," said the UCT coach.

The home side took the early lead when a turnover at a Maties maul near their tryline sparked a flowing counter-attack which ended with wing Mark Winter speeding over for the opening try. UCT build their lead to 13-0 and played excellent rugby in the first 30 minutes against the wind and left Maties little time to attack, by keeping the ball in hand for long spells. 

Flyhalf Ross Jones Davies added two penalties and UCT seemed in control, but Maties hit back hard and proceeded to take the game to the home team.

Western Province flyhalf Gary van Aswegen played a central role for the vistors and provided the skip pass which resulted in his team's opening try, scored by wing Danie Roux just before halftime. 

A try from mercurial fullback Andre Smith pulled Maties closer with the visitors taking a narrow 13:15 lead into the half.

The second half started well for UCT who now played with the wind, but it was Maties number 15 Smith again who cruised through a gap to take the lead for the men in maroon.

UCT hit back with another five-pointer of their own when prop Chris Heiberg barged his way over the whitewash to keep the clash exciting at 21:22. 

The final ten minutes Maties had more endeavour with Van Aswegen prominent and lock Reniel Hugo was the man to go over for the bonus-point try at 21:29.

UCT now threw everything at the visitors, running from deep in their half but the result was sealed by a late try to Morgan Newman which put some extra gloss on the score for Maties 21:36. 

While UCT will be disappointed going down by such a marging after leading 13:0 and being in the game at 21:22 there were also positives for the young Ikeys. U20 flanker Josh Katzen grows in stature with every game and locks Levi Odendaal and Graham Knoop took the game to the Maties pack.

UCT's U20 Trojans salvaged some pride for the blue and white rugby club beating their Maties counterparts 21:17 in a nailbiting contest. The Trojans scored two tries through livewire scrumhalf Ryan Dugmore, and another five pointer through fullback and captain Jason Germishuys. All tries were converted by flyhalf Dale Austin. 

This fantastic victory gives the young Ikeys not only the Hedley Atkins trophy, but also a shot at league honours. 

The scorers:

For FNB UCT Ikey Tigers:
Tries: Winter, Heiberg
Con: Jones Davies
Pens: Jone Davies 3

For FNB Maties:
Tries: Roux, Smith 2, Hugo, Newman
Cons: Van Aswegen 3, Hugo
Pen: Van Aswegen

The teams:

FNB UCT: 15 Andrew Norton, 14 Paul Cohen, 13 Liam Bax, 12 Andre Coetzer, 11 Mark Winter, 10 Ross Jones-Davies, 9 Dylan Frylink, 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 James Tatham, 6 Josh Katzen, 5 Levi Odendaal (captain), 4 Graham Knoop, 3 Christopher Heiberg, 2 Dayne Jans, 1 Wesley Chetty.
Replacements: 16 Gareth Topkin, 17 Shane Meier, 18 Digby Webb, 19 Stephen Buerger, 20 Stephen Wallace, 21 Nathan Nel, 22 Dylan Sage.

FNB Maties: 15 André Smith, 14 Danie Roux, 13 Mark Hodgskiss, 12 Louis Jordaan 11 Morgan Newman, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Gerhard Jordaan, 8 Sam Mabombo, 7 Jurg Streicher, 6 Lampies Lamprecht, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Reniel Hugo, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Alfred Ries, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Gareth Light, 17 Suan Havenga, 18 Nog Een, 19 Nicholas de Jager, 20 Koos Eksteen, 21 André Kemp, 22 Jarryd Buys.

WP Super League log:
(Played, won, points – as at September 2)
Durb-Bell 16, 15, 71
FNB Maties 15, 13, 66
Hamiltons 16, 11, 57
Victorians 15, 8, 42
FNB UCT 14, 7, 37
SK-Walmers 13, 7, 35
Belhar 15, 4, 23
False Bay 16, 4, 20