It was a derby in the style of many an intervarsity at the Danie Craven Stadium, filled with all kinds of drama. On this occasion it was the FNB Maties who claimed the tightest of victories over old foe FNB Ikeys, winning 21-19 via an 81st-minute penalty kick.

An early bit of magic by flyhalf Jurie Matthee saw Maties go ahead 9-0 in as many minutes as he converted his seven-point try. TV commentators Gavin Cowley and Jean de Villiers both hinted at there being some sort of interference by Maties defenders, but it was not referred, and the try stood.

Ikeys struck back via a brilliant length-of-the-field try finished off by fullback Duran Koevort. In the process, Maties wing Maselino Pooe was shown a yellow card for a high tackle that on another day, could well have seen a different colour card dished out.

The teams continued to arm wrestle before some superb play between the backline and forwards saw Ikeys inside centre Lyle Hendricks go over in the corner. A superb touchline conversion from Ntokoza Makhaza saw the visitors go into the halftime break 16-9 in front.

Maties did see red in the second half, this time for a dangerous cleanout to the neck by replacement lock Marco van Rhyn (whose brother, Johan was playing for Ikeys, both brothers to Stormers forward, Ernst). Makhaza hammered home the penalty kick to make it 19-9 to the men in blue and white.

The hosts however responded with a try by livewire scrumhalf Thomas Bursey. The spark was a chip and chase by replacement Luke Burger and the conversion by Matthee made it a single-point game with the clock winding down.

A controversial late penalty against Ikeys for not rolling away in the tackle saw Maties given the opportunity to clinch the game. Which Matthee duly did, via a superb kick from the touchline, with the hooter going off in the background.

MATIES 21 (9) – Tries: JurieMatthee, Thomas Bursey. Conversions: Matthee (2) Penalties: Matthee (1)

IKEYS 19 (16) – Tries: Duran Koevort, Lyle Hendricks. Conversions: Ntokozo Makhaza (2). Penalties: Makhaza (1)

Player That Rocks: Asad Moos (Ikeys)