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Burger van der Westhuizen's NWU Eagles laid down an ominous marker in the defence of their Varsity Cup title with a noteworthy 23-12 victory over Maties on Monday night.
Winning at the Danie Craven Stadium is generally rare for most visiting teams, but the students from Potchefstroom were simply relentless in shutting out their opponents.
While there were spurts of suffocating defence - particularly in the second half when Maties launched a rescue effort in terms of the scoreline - the Eagles built their performance on an imposing pack that meant they were invariably on the front foot.
The initiative of the halfback pair of Aphelele Mdaka and Zinedine Robinson meant the Eagles also weren't afraid to throw the ball around and had their set-piece functioned better, they might even have boasted the more emphatic margin of victory.
Maties' struggles on the night were exemplified by fullback Juan Mostert spurning an easy kick at goal that could've gotten the hosts closer, but their capriciousness was simply too prevalent.
Point scorers:
Maties 12 (7)
Tries: Vernon Matongo, Zuko Poswa.
Conversion: Juan Mostert.
NWU Eagles 23 (14)
Tries: Naiden Jaarts, Ezekiel Ngobeni.
Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (2).
Penalties: Zinedine Robinson (2), Charles Williams.
Deadeye Makhaza sees Ikeys past Shimlas
In one of those typical rugby ironies, the Shimlas dominated the try-scoring stakes against Ikeys in Bloemfontein and yet still found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
The Free Staters crossed the whitewash five times on the evening and probably would've done more than enough if they hadn't handed seven penalties on a platter to Ntokozo Makhaza.
The Ikeys left winger was simply metronomic in kicking over the goals as he ended the with a personal haul of 23 points.
Midfielder Rethabile Louw was also an impressive presence during the game.
Point scorers:
Shimlas 32 (17)
Tries: Riaan van der Merwe, Kwezi Dlamini, Zane Bester, Ethan Wentzel, Jandré Nel.
Conversations: Ethan Wentzel (2).
Penalties: Bradley Giddy
Ikeys 38 (21)
Tries: Taariq Kruger, Siphumezo Dyonase, Rethabile Louw.
Conversations: Ntokozo Makhaza.
Penalties: Makhaza (7)
Desperate Ixias hold out UJ
Despite dominating the first half on the scoreboard and eventually walking away with an opening 23-19 victory, the CUT Ixias finished their meeting with UJ distinctly on the back foot.
They rode on the Johannesburgers' poor discipline in the opening 40 to establish a 13-0 buffer but had to hang on as Jonathan Mokuena's charges scored three tries after the turnaround to heap pressure on the hosts.
But the Ixias marking, at times, bordered on heroic as they held out.
Point scorers:
CUT 23 (13)
Tries: Zachery Bester, Adielson Gouveia.
Penalties: Juan Arnold Smith (2), Christiaan Rheeder.
UJ 19 (0)
Tries: Prince Nkabinde, Likhaya Tengimfene, Marius Coetzee.
Conversions: Rowan Malgas
Wits run rampant against newcomers UWC
Hugo van As' troops delivered by far the most clinical and attractive performance of the opening round with a 66-10 mauling of UWC.
The Western Cape side, nobly promoted, were totally outclassed by their opponents, who scored 9 tries and delivered the type of collective showing Van As prides himself on.
Interestingly, Mark Snyman - a prodigy flanker at junior level and thought to be a shoo-in for the Lions' future - claimed the Man of the Match award with an excellent showing ... from inside centre, where his coach is retreading him.
Point scorers:
UWC 10 (10)
Tries: Louan De Lange
Conversions: Conwill Conradie
Penalties: Conradie
Wits 66 (31)
Tries: Marno Grobbelaar (2), Kelvin Kanenungo, Ngia Selengbe, Hassiem Pead, Cal Smid, Kabelo Mokheti, Elizee Kwitonda, DeWet Fourie (2).
Conversions: Setshaba Mokoena (5), Tireque Apolles
