Lentswe, Potchefstroom - FNB Maties upset FNB NWU Eagles in a close-fought encounter at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground on Monday February 24. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was also in attendance as a guest of the NWU but even his charm did not help the Eagles to a win. A man of the match performance by Maties’ flyhalf Christiaan van Heerden Smith inspired the away side to a victory.
Grant de Jager opened the scoring for Maties following a line-out, however the Eagles’ responded minutes later with a try by Isrome Phatudi who glided over his man to land the try for his side to make it 7-7. With Van Heerden Smith and Stehan Heymans converting for their respective teams.
A penalty by Van Heerden Smith put Maties in front, before a brilliant move from a scrum saw Naiden Jaarts capitalising to land the try to make it 14-10 with Heymans converting again. A penalty by the Eagles’ flyhalf extended lead to 17-10. Maties showed character, with a try from Ryan Manuel and Fortune Mpofu gi-ving the away side a 20-22 lead heading into halftime.
With a change of jersey, Maties began the second half positively with a try from Ezekiel Ngobeni after a sprint down the touch line, with van Heerden Smith converting to make it 20-29.
Divan du Toit responds ten minutes later to reduce the deficit, before Heymans converted to make it 27-29. With a win in sight, Heymans missed a penalty for the Eagles in the last minute of the game, ensuring Maties walk away with all the points.
The next game of the Eagles will be on March 3 against Wits in Johannesburg. They find themselves in sixth place on the log with one point.
