Swart scores hat-trick in Maties' 50-point humiliation of UCT to book final spot

Maties hooker Sean Swart scored a hat-trick as Maties saw off their old foe 58-19 UCT Ikeys in their Varsity Cup semi-final at the UCT Rugby Grounds in Cape Town on Monday.

Ikeys had finished second behind Shimlas in the Varsity Cup standings to book a home semi-final berth at the ground where they beat Maties 44-27 three weeks prior.

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But they could not repeat the trick as Maties ran them ragged almost from the first whistle in the windy Western Cape, scoring eight tries in total.

Victory meant the five-time Varsity Cup champions reached their ninth final of the competition’s history, an unparalleled achievement.

After UCT suffered an early yellow card, Maties went in front through a 7-point try (9 after the Nevaldo Fluers conversion) through No 6 Gift Dlamini.

Oh captain my captain! First blood to @MatiesSport as captain Gift Dlamini collects the pop pass to the inside to score under the poles for the maroon machine!Early advantage for the visitors!#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/PPLXqfSrZl

But Ikeys hit back through their captain Luthando Woji, who was adjudged to have dotted the ball down after the TMO’s review.

The two Cape adversaries kept each other off through some body jabs, but Maties again swung for the knockout.

Swart scored from the back of a 20m lineout drive that broke Ikeys defence into biscuit crumbs to restore their 12-point advantage.

10th FNB Varsity Cup try of the season for @MatiesSport hooker Sean Swart. If there's a maroon machine driving maul you can bet he will be at the helm and secure the points. Remember the name. #RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/QAViGoSwkG

Then, De Wet Marais produced a brilliant offload that