#TuksRugby: UP-Tuks is looking forward to upsetting Maties in the Varsity Cup-final

Posted on April 11, 2019

When UP-Tuks take to the field on Monday night to play Maties in the Varsity Cup-final in Stellenbosch, it could be compared to be a classic scenario of “David versus Goliath”.
 
The stats certainly favour Maties to win. Not only are they the only unbeaten team in the competition. They also top the log for most tries as well as points scored. In the nine games so far Maties scored 432 points which included 59 tries. Tuks amassed 308 points and scoring 40 tries. It equates to Maties scoring ten points more per game.
 
However, UP-Tuks can claim to be the only team that came close to beating Maties only losing 26-24 in this season’s first encounter. Denzil Hill (UP-Tuks number-8) is confident that he and his teammates are capable of winning.
 
“In all honesty so far Maties has been the best team in the competition but we believe we can beat them. It is going to be a big challenge, but we are certainly up to it.”
 
Hill certainly has reason to be confident. Two of the most outstanding aspects of the UP-Tuks play throughout the tournament has been there never say die attitude and their fearless defence.
 
He and a few of the other “elder statesmen” in the team certainly got extra motivation for wanting to win. Monday will be the last time they will be playing for UP-Tuks.
 
No matters what the future holds as far as his rugby career is concerned Hill will always view getting the opportunity to play Varsity Cup-rugby as a life-changing experience.
 
“My advice to any young player is if you get the opportunity to play Varsity Cup-rugby don’t hesitate to do so especially when the Bulls offer you a contract as it includes a bursary to study for free. Two of my proudest moments are completing my BCom Marketing studies and this year to receive a post-graduate diploma in entrepreneurship.”
 
Hill admits that it has not always been easy. Varsity rugby players often train up to five hours days then they still have to attend classes and find time to study. In the end, the challenge became finding enough hours in a day.
 
“I did get unstuck during my second year failing five of my seven modules in the first semester. When I told my mom, she started to cry. She mom was genuinely disappointed. Seeing her so distraught led to me making a conscious decision as never to allow this to happen again.”
 
The UP-Tuks loose forwards – Hill, Stephan Smith and Hanru Sirgel – have impressed every game they played.  According to Hill why they gelled so well together as because they complement each other’s playing styles.
 
“I am the ball carrier. There is nothing I like more than to have the ball in hand trying to force my way through the defence. Stephan and Hanru are doing the ‘donkey work’. Putting in the big tackles and trying to secure turnovers during the rucks.”
- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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