Five-time FNB Varsity Cup champions FNB Maties outgunned bottom-of-the-log FNB UWC 14-63 in their Cape derby in Bellville on Monday evening (18 March).
The men from Stellenbosch built a solid base following a 7-19 half-time lead.
The home side made some telling runs in the opening quarter of the match when flyhalf Aaron Swartz swerved his way around three would-be Maties defenders to dot down for the first try. Conwill Conradie added the extras.
Maties bided their time well and worked economically with the possession and territory that they had in the first half, resulting in Vernon Matongo crashing over for a Maties unconverted try. The visitors soon compounded their score when DeWet Marais and Juan Mostert ran in for two unanswered tries.
It was a Maroon Machine affair in the second half, as Maties ran in two point-of-origin and two five-pointers, to lead 7-49 lead as the second strategy break loomed.
A late-consolation try courtesy of replacement scrumhalf Wian van der Sandt meant UWC moved into double digits on the scoreboard before the final whistle blew.
Maties ran in a few more tries towards the end of the match with their experience proving too much for UWC in their first season back in the Cup division.
The FNB Maties try scorers were Vernon Matongo (2), De Wet Marais (2), Juan Mostert, Christiaan van Heerden-Smith, Louw Nel, Ryan Manuel, Edrich Viljoen. Mostert, named FNB Player That Rocks, slotted six conversions.
