{"id":45685,"date":"2025-02-27T06:04:52","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T04:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/maroon-machine-trumps-nwu-eagles-20250226-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:41:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:41:22","slug":"maroon-machine-trumps-nwu-eagles-20250226-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/maroon-machine-trumps-nwu-eagles-20250226-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Maroon Machine trumps NWU Eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>FNB Maties upset FNB NWU Eagles in a close-fought FNB Varsity Cup encounter at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom on Monday evening (24 February).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A man-of-the-match performance by Maties\u2019 fly-half Christiaan van Heerden Smith inspired the visitors to a 27-29 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winger Grant de Jager opened the scoring for Maties following a line-out, however the Eagles responded with a try by inside centre Isrome Phatudi, who glided over his man to land the try for his side. Van Heerden Smith and Eagles fly-half Stehan Heymans converted for their respective teams (7-7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A penalty by Van Heerden Smith put Maties in front, before a brilliant move from a scrum saw NWU winger Naiden Jaarts capitalising to dot down and take the scoreboard to 14-10 when Heymans slotted the conversion again. A penalty by the Eagles\u2019 fly-half extended the lead to 17-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maties showed character, with a try from outside centre Ryan Manuel and flanker Fortune Mpofu giving the away side a 20-22 lead heading into half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a change of jersey, Maties began the second half positively with a try by captain and scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni after a sprint down the touchline, with Van Heerden Smith converting to make it 20-29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NWU scrumhalf Divan du Toit responded with a try 10 minutes later to reduce the deficit, before Heymans converted to make it 27-29. Heymans failed to clinch the victory for his side with a missed penalty in the last minute of the game, handing the men from Stellenbosch the victory and all the points on offer for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next Monday (3 March), Maties return to Stellenbosch when they host FNB CUT at the Danie Craven Stadium at 19:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> Other results: FNB UP-Tuks 37-29 FNB UJ; FNB UFS Shimlas 59-29 FNB Wits; and FNB CUT 23-19 FNB UCT Ikeys.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FNB Maties upset FNB NWU Eagles in a close-fought FNB Varsity Cup encounter at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom on Monday evening (24 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