Tigers beat NMMU to secure home semi

NMMU 7 – 36 UCT
It’s "See you later at the Green Mile", for the table topping Ikeys, after the Cape Town side managed a scrappy victory over NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University).
Today’s 5 log points means the top spot is secured even before the final league match (on Monday vs Shimlas) and the home semi final is in the blue and white striped bag.

The top seated team took on the thus far winless and bottom of the log side from PE in their second feature of the Varsity Cup Bumper Easter Weekend in George and given those facts, it was always going to be a tough assignment .

The
match started out slowly and both teams struggled to keep possession
with handling skills and focus letting both sides down. UCT wing Rob Hopwood
scored his side’s first try and it was pure pace that saw him gallop
around the defence to dot down.
Even on an average day, the Ikey’s back three proved dangerous as UCT scored again through speedy winger Marcelo Sampson.
NMMU trailed by 12-0 at half time when Morne
van der Westhuizen crossed for his sides’ only try of the day.

UCT replied with a try by scrumhalf Kyle Wickins, until tournament top try scorer Matthew Turner crossed more than
half the field for UCTs’ fourth try with five minutes remaining on the
clock to secure the bonus point for his team. Hopwood scored his second try within
the dying seconds.

The Ikey’s best on the day include hooker JP Koster, wing
Marcello Sampson, Rob Hopwood, Matthew Turner and flyhalf Matthew Rosslee.

UCT face Shimlas on Monday in their last fixture before the
semis and there is nothing to lose for the Ikeys and everything to
play for, for the Freestate team when the high flying Cape side take on what was one of the
pre-tournament favourites who now only have an outside chance of sneaking into the semis.

Scorers:
Tries: Marcello Sampson, Rob Hopwood (2), Matthew Turner, Kyle
Wickins.
Conversions: Matthew Rosslee, Matthew Turner (2). Penalty:
Matthew Rosslee

Standings after round 6: 
1 UCT (26)
2 Maties (20)
3 TUKS (19)
4 NWU-PUKKE (18)
5 UJ (16)
6 Shimlas (15)
7 TUT (9)
8 NMMU (5)

Monday’s fixtures:
08.30: NMMU v Tuks
10.30: NWU-Pukke v UJ
14.30: TUT v Maties
16.00: UCT v Shimlas