The men\u2019s rugby team of the Uni\u00adversity of the Free State (UFS), the Shimlas, kept the dream to annex this year\u2019s Varsity Cup title alive after securing a slot in the semifinals. They achieved this after beating their archrivals, the Maties of Stellenbosch University (SU), in a must-win tie on Monday (03\/04).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decisive match was played in the Maties\u2019 backyard in Stellenbosch. The visiting Shimlas put on a masterful performance to get the edge over Maties and win by 44 \u2013 12. The result earned the UFS side a semifinal fixture against another Western Cape opponent, the University of Cape Town\u2019s (UCT) Ikeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maties will clash with the Eagles of the North-West University (NWU) in the other semifinal fixture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The semifinals will be played on Monday (10\/04). The two winners thereof will face off in the final on 17 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the victory on Monday, the men from Bloemfontein concluded another chapter in their rivalry against Maties. They became the first Shimlas side to beat their opponents in Stellenbosch \u2013 the previous best being a 13 \u2013 13 draw in 2014. They joined the list of six teams that have managed to win in Matieland, a feat that has only been managed eight times since 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Shimlas\u2019 progression to the semifinals has brought the team a step closer to annexing the sought-after trophy. This has eluded the UFS boys the past six years, after they won their first-ever cup in 2015. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gutsy Shimla team is in second position with 25 points, behind the Eagles who boast 31 points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Free State pins its hopes on the Shimlas after the Ixias of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, fell by the wayside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ixias needed to win against the Ikeys to advance to the semifinals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CUT lads, however, were unable to sustain their great start in the tournament. This impressive start is memorable due to sensational victories against Tuks of the University of Pretoria (UP), by 43 \u2013 39, and Maties, by 23 \u2013 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CUT became the fifth Varsity Cup team to beat the Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The men\u2019s rugby team of the Uni\u00adversity of the Free State (UFS), the Shimlas, kept the dream to annex this year\u2019s Varsity Cup title alive after securing a slot in the semifinals. They achieved this after beating their archrivals, the Maties of 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