UJ and Wits 8th round Varsity Cup match-ups

UJ win secures Varsity Cup rugby for next season while Wits loses their home game.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) got an important win on April 4 when they played the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and won 50–28. The win moved them out and clear of the relegation space but the same couldn’t be said for Wits University who lost to the University of Cape Town 47–23 on the same day.

UJ scored their first try of the game in the 6th minute but by the 13th minute UWC had tied the game 7–7 with a try and conversion of their own. The Orange Army then went on a run scoring a two tries, two conversions and a penalty to lead the game 24–7 after 31 minutes. A monster point-of-origin try by UWC encouraged the team but an additional try and conversion for UJ ended the first half 31–14. UJ picked up where they left off scoring another two tries and conversion within the first 10 minutes of the second stanza to extend the lead to 43–14. UWC showed some fight scoring a try and conversion but UJ reciprocated that to lead 50–21. The last points of the game were awarded to UWC thanks to a point-of-origin try but there was little time to stage a comeback ending the game 50–28. The win for the Orange Army means UJ has secured a place in next year’s FNB Varsity Cup having avoided the relegation zone.

Wits hosted the team from Cape Town and the visitors hit the ground running scoring a point-of-origin try, try and conversion within the first 20 minutes to take a 14–0 lead. Five minutes later the home team finally showed up and went on an impressive run to tie the game 14–14 courtesy of a two tries and conversions. UCT scored another try just before the half ended to take a 19–14 lead into the break and started the second period with another try to extend the lead to 24–14. UCT would score another try and conversion but Wits replied with a point-of-origin try and conversion to trail 31–21. Unfortunately for Wits, this was the last time they would celebrate for the game as UCT went on to secure victory thanks to a try, two conversions and a massive point-of-origin try to win the game 47–23.