Maties make it two in a row
30 Mar 2009
Maties clinched their second Varsity Cup title with a 11-6 win over Pukke in a scrappy final in Stellenbosch.
The defending champions struggled to get going in the first half, but some smart work at the breakdown and solid defence in the second stanza saw Chean Roux’s men hang on to claim their second title in two years.
The game was far from the showpiece the 18 000 strong at the Danie Craven Stadium had hoped for, but in the end the Maties fans were the ones singing after 80 minutes.
In a tight and disjointed first half it was Pukke who got off to a good start and took the lead in only the second minute through a Cecil Dumond penalty. The visitors were playing some good percentage rugby albeit without much penetration.
It was only a matter of time until the hosts found their rhythm and after a good period of sustained pressure, Maties launched an attack from a scrum deep in Pukke’s half. The ball went quickly through the hands before reaching Morné Jooste out on the wing who stumbled before finishing in the corner for the only try of the game.
While Pukke looked good at lineout time, it was at the breakdown where their hard work was undone as the Maties’ forwards dominated the tackle point.
The difference between the two sides was the speed at which Stellenbosch were able to attack, which was down to the efficient work of their loose trio and the crisp distribution of scrumhalf Donald Stevens.
Pukke were still enjoying the bulk of the possession but had little to show for it as Maties’ defence stood strong. With time running out in the half a good kick and chase led to an attacking scrum for Pukke deep in Maties territory.
From the scrum the visitors managed to set up an overlap on the left, but fullback Willem Barnard butchered the chance to give his side the lead and Maties went into the break with a slim advantage.
The game started to open up in the second half, but as the ball was given more air, the error count began to mount on both sides and Pukke finally regained the lead through the boot of Dumond in the 49th minute.
Stellenbosch edged in front again through a cheeky drop goal from flyhalf Johan Sadie. The score seemed to reinvigorate the defending champions and they extended their lead just three minutes later through a Stevens penalty.
Maties’ forwards were beginning to stamp their authority on the game, but in most instances their hard work was undone by some sloppy handling.
With less then 10 minutes left in the game Pukke threw everything they had left at the hosts, but Roux’s men were up to the challenge as they kept the visitors at bay to hold on for the win.
In the curtain-raiser Armentum of Shimlas beat Dromedaris of the University of Johannesburg 30-16 in the Koshuis final.
By Andrew Worling, in Stellenbosch
454 Comments
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30 Mar 2009, 17:17 pm
go maties
30 Mar 2009, 17:17 pm
can whoever watches please give updates…
30 Mar 2009, 17:25 pm
#2 grant10: They’r not playing yet.
30 Mar 2009, 17:31 pm
I see that the thread regarding Shawn Mackay got taken down.
“He sustained a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation (broken neck), compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula (broken leg) and multiple facial fractures and lacerations as a result of the accident.
He will remain in a medically induced coma for the next 36 hours as he undergoes continued treatment.”
It sounds like at least he is beyond the worst.
30 Mar 2009, 17:41 pm
#4 church – like chch but pronounceable:
Nah mate still a long way to go . This is tragic.
30 Mar 2009, 17:57 pm
Go Maties! I wish I could be at Danie Craven tonight, it is going to be an awesome atmosphere!
30 Mar 2009, 18:00 pm
#3 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: okay…but if you watching i will appreciate it..
30 Mar 2009, 18:01 pm
#7 grant10: once they kick off i mean…
30 Mar 2009, 18:03 pm
#7 grant10: I should be watching. Match starts at 18h45.
30 Mar 2009, 18:38 pm
#9 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Thanks
30 Mar 2009, 18:40 pm
Maties should take this one!!
30 Mar 2009, 18:50 pm
3/0 to pukke. penalty
30 Mar 2009, 18:52 pm
I am surprised I found the game online.
30 Mar 2009, 18:54 pm
#12 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: damn….as bad as the stormers!
30 Mar 2009, 18:55 pm
#13 fish out of water: where mate??
30 Mar 2009, 18:57 pm
h tee tee pee : // www dot justin tv dot com / live24rugby
30 Mar 2009, 18:58 pm
Camerawork is pathetic!
30 Mar 2009, 19:01 pm
5/3 Maties.
30 Mar 2009, 19:07 pm
#18 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: yes sir!!
30 Mar 2009, 19:35 pm
must be a tough battle….low scoring and all…
30 Mar 2009, 19:37 pm
5/3 maties halftime
30 Mar 2009, 19:38 pm
#20 grant10: Both teams had their chances. But a very tough game.
30 Mar 2009, 19:43 pm
#22 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: finals are tough…must be a magic atmosphere…
30 Mar 2009, 19:44 pm
#22 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: who would you want as new lions coach …looks like Loffie outta there…??
30 Mar 2009, 19:49 pm
#24 grant10: Heyneke. Cause he’ll set set the structures that the Lions so badly need. And I believe some good players will follow him.
30 Mar 2009, 19:54 pm
6/5 pukke. Penalty
30 Mar 2009, 19:55 pm
#25 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: yes…i think so as well…certainly will attract lots of players….i am hoping stormers will look to change as well…cant see rassie being allowed to continue for a season longer after the rubbish the stormers have been dishing up week after week…Lions blew it Sat…thay had the canes for all money…threw it away…sad to say but the ashwin knock on changed the match completely…
30 Mar 2009, 19:56 pm
#26 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: oh no…i am having flashbacks to the saders game!
30 Mar 2009, 20:02 pm
8/6 maties. Drop goal.
30 Mar 2009, 20:05 pm
#27 grant10: Stormers moet maar vir Jake kry en die Lions vir Heyneke. Sal ons rugby goed doen. Rassie moet maar weer oorneem by Naka.
Maar ek moet nie te vinnig praat nie, as die Bulls nou te veel gaan begin verloor, gaan sy kop ook sommer ge-eis (of is dit ge-eish?) word ! Dan moet Heyneke kom red !
30 Mar 2009, 20:05 pm
11/6 penalty maties
30 Mar 2009, 20:06 pm
sy kop = Ludeke
30 Mar 2009, 20:06 pm
#30 alf: Heyneke sal nie teruggaan bulle toe nie. Hulle het hom noudie dag weer ‘n toffie gewys.
30 Mar 2009, 20:06 pm
#29 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Yes maties#31 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: yeeeeyaaaa
30 Mar 2009, 20:08 pm
As die Pukke nie vinnig ‘n kopskuif maak nie, gaan hul ver verloor. Hul speel om die telling laag te hou, val glad nie aan nie, en hoop maar net vir taMatie foute. Kan nie so wen nie.
30 Mar 2009, 20:08 pm
Maties r playing all the rugby now.
30 Mar 2009, 20:08 pm
#30 alf: #33 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Ek sal bly wees as Jake of Heyneke vir die stormers sal afrig….my favorite is Mallet…en na die italiaanse fiasco wie weet….en hy hou van die kaap ook!!
30 Mar 2009, 20:11 pm
#35 alf: alf die maties moet wen ….ons kaapenaars vat huge strain met die resultate !!Hierdie sal n bietjie verligting bring!!
30 Mar 2009, 20:16 pm
#37 grant10: To be honest don’t think Jake or Meyer want anything to do with SA rugby. Pity. Both have been messed about so much. Then who knows we just may see them both coaching here somewhere again. WE need to keep both these very talented coaches in this country.
If Meyer could coach Lions and Jake Stormers you would see both teams transformed and playing to their potential. I have no doubt about that.
Just that Jake turned down the job with the Lions so not sure if he will coach Stormers either, unless living in the Cape makes it more attractive for him.
30 Mar 2009, 20:20 pm
It’s like a battlefield out on Coetzenburg…both sides are exhausted, some big hits going in…olding on
..come on, Maties!
Finally the ref blows Pukke for holding on.
30 Mar 2009, 20:20 pm
#27 grant10: Agree Grant, I thought that Lions should have won on Saturday. Had missed some very good chances. That knock on by Willemse did turn the game. Would have been a great result for Lions to beat the Canes. Still think Lions will surprise some NZ and OZ teams they will play.
30 Mar 2009, 20:21 pm
#38 grant10: Hulle verdien om te wen.
30 Mar 2009, 20:21 pm
#39 Puma: Hi Puma…i think Meyer looking ….wouldnt be surprised if he gets the lions job…not sure about jake though…as i said ..my 1 st choice would be Mallet…i am not a rassie fan and to be fair to rassie i am under the impression he is not very happy in the cape
30 Mar 2009, 20:22 pm
#40 WP Till I Die: GO MATIES!!
30 Mar 2009, 20:23 pm
how long to go now??
30 Mar 2009, 20:24 pm
#44 grant10:
Glad to see people can still enjoy their rugby and blog without insulting others!
GO MATIES!!!!
30 Mar 2009, 20:24 pm
#41 Puma: great the way we klapped the aussies in the 20 over games ! When do the 1 dayers start Puma?
30 Mar 2009, 20:24 pm
#45 grant10:
Just over three minutes…
30 Mar 2009, 20:25 pm
#45 grant10: Hi Grant, I think it is possibly a blessing that I do not understand Africaans, I have been reading the other threads and it appears some folk got out of bed on the wrong side today!!
30 Mar 2009, 20:26 pm
Rom, rom, rom, die Maties kom!
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