Tuks had to win to qualify for the play-offs, but they were given very little chance to do so since Maties were so much more on song and the only unbeaten side in the competition.

In the end it was touch and go for the visitors, but as Tuks captain Johan de Bruin said in the post-match interview: “For a change we had luck on our side.”

It took Tuks 59 minutes to take the lead for the first time, but Maties had two chances in the last three minutes to win the match. Wesley Wilkins, Maties’ captain who was yellow carded in the second half, knocked the ball on as he was about to score his team’s winning try.

In the last minute Maties had another opportunity to stay unbeaten after Tuks were penalised for an infringement in the ruck. Donald Stevens (fly half) however missed the kick at goal.

Wilkins praised Tuks for their effort, saying it was gutsy and very goal driven.

“For them it was make or break and they played as if it was a final. We were not up there,” said Wilkins.

His Tuks’ counterpart, Johan de Bruin said his team could not have asked for a bigger morale booster than beating Maties in front of their home crowd.

“Our only chance to still qualify for the play-offs was to beat them. In doing so we showed that we are a passionate and proud team never to be written off,” said De Bruin.

Tuks’ win was the result of a fine team effort, but Peet Bothma (lock), Henri Bantjes (hooker), No 8 Mark Nichols and centre Franco Booysen nevertheless deserve special mention.

Tuks’ tries were scored by Jacques Botha, Kruger van Heerden (in his 50th match) and Bantjes. Mauritz Boshoff succeeded with two conversion and two penalty goals.

Tuks will travel to Stellenbosch again for the semi-finals on Monday week (23 March). It will be a repeat of last year’s semi-final which Tuks lost in the last minute.

In the other semi-final it will also be a repeat of last year as UCT again play host to Pukke.

Maties top the log with 28, followed by Ikeys (25), Pukke (23) and Tuks (20).