FNB Varsity Cup Rugby: UJ defeats SU Maties 49-42 at home

On Monday, 27 March 2023, the University of Johannesburg (FNB UJ) senior men’s rugby squad defeated another Cape Town side, Stellenbosch University (FNB SU Maties), in round six (6) of the 2023 FNB Varsity Cup rugby tournament. It was raining tries at UJ Stadium, with several FNB UJ players contributing to a thrilling 49-42 final tally at fulltime.

FNB UJ opened the scoring with a 5-point try from Nkondlokamthimkhulu Radebe. Tries by Prince Nkabinde, Siphesihle Nkabini, Hlone Mputhu, and Mpho Kubheka in the first and second halves, as well as five successful conversions by Rowan Malgas, gave the Orange Army a much-needed victory, keeping the hosts ahead from start to finish.

UJ’s Mpho Kubheka downs a try for the Orange Army in a thrilling 49-42 victory over visitors Stellenbosch University. [Photo-Pieter Gravett]
FNB UJ took a deliberate strategy from the start, scoring two tries and one successful conversion in the first 20 minutes. The FNB SU Maties followed suit, moving closer on the scoreboard, but the Orange Army led 17-10 at halftime.

The hosts continued pushing for more, dotting a point-of-origin try immediately after the start of the second half. In no time, two more tries extended UJ’s lead to 40-17. However, the visitors applied pressure to FNB UJ, scoring a handful of late tries to remind FNB UJ of how they lost their matches in the past four rounds.

At fulltime, the scoreline stood at 49-42 as FNB UJ put themselves in a safe zone to avoid the relegation playoff going into the final round. The Orange Army will take on relegated University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) on Monday, 3 April 2023.

Rowan Malgas won the FNB Player That Roacks after a good shift against SU Maties. [Photo-Pieter Gravett]
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