Striker Tshenolo Machwisa scored a hat-trick on the night, with fellow NWU team mates Thatohatsi Santos, Matsobane Matsi and Kagiso Modimeong also finding their names on the scoresheet in a heated affair, as both sides were reduced to ten men.
The defeat leaves UCT rooted to the bottom of the standings alongside Limpopo with just one point after their four encounters, while NWU surged to the top of the table, with a one-point advantage over their closest rivals UP Tuks.
Second-placed Tuks put their disappointing 4-0 loss to UJ last week behind them as they recorded a convincing 5-1 victory over Limpopo.
Botshelo Mfulwane’ early brace put the hosts in front, before Limpopo’s Clyde Kgatla headed home as Tuks went into the break with a narrow 2-1 advantage. The floodgates opened in the second half however, as Sibongile Njokwe, Lindsay Stowman and Jeremiah Nkwana found the back of the net to complete the 5-1 rout.
In Bloemfontein, UFS-Kovsies and UJ played out to a thrilling 2-2 draw, with the Gauteng-based outfit the happier of the two sides after playing the majority of the encounter with a man less after Grant Bruchhausen was sent off in the first half.
Manxubandile Bantshi struck a minute later to hand the lead back to the hosts, yet UJ secured the draw after Lwazi Nogenga headed home to rescue a point.
Another fiery encounter took place in Port Elizabeth, where UWC emerged as 2-1 victors over hosts NMMU. Tapelo Sixishe put the visitors ahead with an early penalty, before NMMU’s Lukhanyo Rasmeni drew the sides level midway through the second period.
However, a late Reza Zain Dramat strike gave the Western Cape outfit maximum points as NMMU suffered their first home defeat of the competition.
NWU 6 – 0 UCT
Tuks 5 – 1 Limpopo
UFS 2 – 2 UJ
NMMU 1 – 2 UWC
CEO for Varsity Sports Duitser Bosman has been delighted with the level thus far in the tournament.
“The excitement and quality of Varsity Football is what draws the crowds to these events,” he said. “These high-energy events are well organised and offer huge spectator entertainment.”
The fifth round of Varsity Football fixtures will take place on 18 August, with five more rounds of univerisyt football action to look forward to.
UFS vs NMMU
UJ vs UCT
TUKS vs NWU
UWC vs Limpopo