Varsity Cup’s #RugbyThatRocks is back with the bang as the competition kicked off across the country on February 14.
Ten teams competed on the day opening their 2022 campaign including Johannesburg’s Wits University and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Wits beat Nelson Mandela University (Madibaz) 31–20 in front of their electrifying home crowd while UJ registered a 44–44 draw against the Central University of Technology in front of their hostile fans in Bloemfontein.
The Madibaz led the game 6–5 after 23 minutes of play courtesy of two penalties. With their fans right behind them, Wits fought back and scored two tries while Madibaz’s tighthead was in the sin bin in the 31st minute.
At half-time, Wits led 19–6. Wits scored another two tries as Madibaz tried to stage a fightback in the second half.
Wits were awarded bonus points for scoring four tries or more.
In Bloemfontein, UJ got off to a hot start when flanker Johannes Terblanche scored two early tries to make it 13–0 after 16 minutes. By the 33rd minute, the Orange Army led 27–7 but found themselves trailing 37–42 with 11 minutes left in the game.
Although the match ended 44–42 in favour of UJ, the opposition lodged an appeal for a trial they had scored which resulted in the final scoreline being adjusted to 44–44. The disputed try had been awarded as a normal five-point try but Central University believed it should have been a point of origin (seven-point) try. SA Rugby reviewed the try which led to the decision of awarding a point of origin try.
The sides will now turn their attention to the second round of their campaign with Wits hosting Central University while UJ continues their road trip, this time visiting the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Both games were played on February 21, UCT vs UJ at 17:00 and Wits vs Central University at 19:00.
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