Finally the UCT Tigers can call themselves Champions of the Varsity Cup after failing in two finals and one semi final over the past four years.
by Jacques
They came from behind to beat Tukkies 26-16 in one of the great finals of this tournament, giving me at least one correct prediction this season.
In a game of two half’s I almost heard the sound of “chokers” while I was watching Tuks hammering away at UCT in the first half. This after UCT went up seven points within the first minute of the game.
But that was about that for UCT where they struggled until the last minutes of the first half when Catrakilis kicked over a penalty to make it 16-10 to Tuks going into the break. Tuks looked like real winners at this stage and played the Bulls blue print to the tee in the first half.
As much as Tuks dominated UCT in the first half, UCT slowly started turning the tables in the second.
For the first time in three finals UCT did not let their opponents close the door on them especially in the last ten minutes keeping a relentless Tuks side off their goal line. Tuks came with wave after wave of attack but UCT’s defense stood firm.
Tuks were more effective at the breakdown where the hand of Heyneke Meyer could clearly be seen – both in terms of tactics and passion. This was compounded by the fact that UCT struggled with the high bombs that rained down on them from the Tukkies halfbacks.
Ikeys soon realised they had to change tactics and by keeping the ball in hand more, they robbed Tuks of momentum. In the end it was a deserved win by Ikeys that showed that they can grind it out to the final whistle as well as playing attractive rugby. Tuks will look back at silly mistakes in the second half as the major cause for their collapse but some dodgy decisions from the man in charge also made life difficult for both teams.
Demetri Catrakilis played the game of his life with his flair and boot and won himself the man of the match award.
It was a great win for a great team celebrated at the final whistle by the UCT faithful including all the people who did such hard work behind the scenes for the team. With sponsors and a winner’s cheque of R250 000 supporting UCT, we will hopefully see them upgrade the Green Mile and add some floodlights to further boost the Cape team.
The scorers:
For Tuks:
Try: Du Plessis
Con: Dunlop
Pens: Dunlop 3
For UCT:
Tries: Mallett, Page
Cons: Catrakilis 2
Pens: Catrakilis 4
* Earlier The FNB TUT Vikings snatched a dramatic 50-43 extra-time victory over FNB CUT in their Varsity Cup promotion/relegation play-off. The result will be celebrated for some time in Pretoria, as they retain two teams in the top flight of university rugby, after TUT wing Ruan van Loo got over in the final seconds of extra-time for his hat-trick – a try that sealed his side’s spot in the 2012 Varsity Cup.
* Meanwhile a well drilled Patria from Pukke won a one-sided Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final 21-0 against for Maties koshuis Simonsberg.
Some other rewards also came on the night.
*Maties captain Callie Visagie had been voted as 2011 Varsity Cup Player That Rocks
* Hugo Kloppers also from Maties won the Forward that Rocks
* Shimlas scrumhalf Enrico Acker won the Back that Rocks
“I said it a while ago – Callie Visagie has the potential and leadership qualities to play for the Springboks one day,” said Varsity Cup MD Duitser Bosman in wishing Visagie on his award.
“Well done, too, to Hugo and Enrico – it’s a great achievement by both.”
Like I said on Monday, congrats to the two UCT supporters I know here at Ruggaworld, Morne and JP, at least after four years of getting your ass kicked in the play off’s you won the Cup. Great win.
elcamino
ROOILEEU
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logan
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Aldo
Methos The French Stormer
KingPaul
JT_BOKBEFOK!
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RUGGA_MIND
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Jacques(Bunny)Somtimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits
moose
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niekie
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Blokkies
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Koos
April 13th, 2011 at 9:40 am
TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2011 at 9:43 am
http://www.rugbyxv.co.za/coaches-corner/mental-sessions/314-a-tribute-to-the-different
April 13th, 2011 at 9:53 am
I see the Maties Mafia managed to get SA Rugby to agree to host the National Club Champs at the Cow Patch
April 13th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Thought that this was one of the better finals I saw although Maties was not playing in it.
When Maties was playing in the final you knew who will win at the end
but Monday the game was up for any team until the last 10 min when UCT scored the last try.
Thought Tuks did well this season and will be real contenders next year if they can keep most of the guys
Congrats Tigers
April 13th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:53 am: Best stadium in SA
April 13th, 2011 at 10:07 am
Great re-cap Jacques!
Morne valuable read – well done to Mindcoaching
On your last post and last points. How many of these palyers are bona fide Varsity student ??? The shortest varsity degree is 3 years. How many players are real students who have passed 1 year at least and are busy with their next years ???
How long before the public see through this scam???
Would Varsity Cup organisers be open enough to provide complete list of all players in squads and what degrees they are studing for and what years they are – fully backed by press-releases of the Universities themselves confirming facts???
Me thinks not !!!
April 13th, 2011 at 10:14 am
I know each team is allowed to play 4 non-students (pro-players) is that 4 per squad or 4 on the field/starting 22?
The Unions are simply stocking their Varsity Cup teams with excess Vodacom Players.
I have sero problem if such Vodacom players is a bona fide 3year plus degree. (Not some 1year diploma kak) enrolled student – but all are not!
April 13th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Reply to The Brand @ 10:07 am:
4 ELIGIBILITY. (Clause 7 of Bye-Laws).
4.1 Any player twenty-five (25) years and younger can play in this competition and must be a registered player of the club. Thus a player can turn 25 any time during the year of the competition.
4.2 At least fifteen (15) players of the twenty-three (23) players on match day must be bona fide registered students at the university for which they are playing.
April 13th, 2011 at 10:21 am
Bona fide students are being denied exactly the claim of Varsity Cup – giving opportunities to those players who are not contracted by Unions already.
What are the qualification to play rules?
April 13th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Dankie Morne.
Proofs my point!!!
They should call the competition – Half-Varsity Cup!!!
Also note their are zero requirements to “registered students”.
So now these players register for 1 year diplomas – its bullshit !!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Reply to The Brand @ 10:31 am: Actually smart thinking on the guys to register for one year to get TV time in Varsity Cup were normally at clubs they do not. But do get your point…..I do think the whole idea of the Varsity Cup is to give players change on a stage which they would not get otherwise.
We saw this year many players shifting from university which means they grant this stage of playing in the Varsity Cup important to further their career. I do not believe it is all bad for the simple reason that unions can only contract so many players per year and this gives other players the change to play at this level.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:31 am
Jacques – that seems to be the ‘main’ point stressed week in and week out – giving players an opportunity they would not otherwise get.
Great then let’s call it – Club Champs – and stop bullshitting the public with this University / Varsity angle.
Fact is the organisers would never get 10 000 plus people to ‘normal’ club game. Therefore with a marketing stroke of brilliance they roped the Varsities with marketing value and the students in with another great reason to party.
But for fook sake don’t BS and call it Varsity Cup in the same tradition as Intervarsities.
THAT is a farce !!!.
And nobody feels a pigs-arse for the bona fide student who does not get an opportunity because the Varsity imported 20 players to the squad who are not bona fide students – f*ck them the must get their degree and work proper jobs – and that exclude Pro-Rugby-player.
What about those 20 odd excluded students who NOW will not get opportunity – f*ck them !!!
Jacques this is not reflection on you – simply me being gatvol of people swollowing BD and queing for more BS.
April 13th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Reply to The Brand @ 11:31 am: I Agree fully with your frustration. I think it got to do with support they get from universities and so-called model as inter-varsities.
Would also rather see a bigger and better tournament including say the top three clubs in each region and top university in each region. That gives you four teams in each union.
April 13th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Reply to Morné @ 2:02 pm:
It’s such a unique happening – maybe you should approach government to declare a national holiday.
Commemorate it every year.
April 13th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 2:23 pm:
We’ll celebrate it every year from now round-about the same time!
TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
TIGERBLOOD!!!!
WINNER!!!!!!!