On that night nearly two years ago, when the Shimlas won the tournament for the first time, they beat the very same Pukke with a comprehensive 63-33 drubbing.

On Monday night, the side from Potchefstroom took the lead in the 15th minute when the winger, Jimmy Mpailane, went screaming over the tryline for a converted 7-point try to put them up 9-0.

The early try didn’t rattle the hosts. In fact, this seemed to have spurred them on even more and they applied the pressure to earn the right to go into the half time break leading 12-9, following a try by Nicolaas Immelman and a penalty try.

The Shimlas were struck a major blow in the first half when the flyhalf, Niel Stannard, had to leave the park injured. It became even worse when the replacement pivot, Nicholas Naudé, was stretched off. This forced a major shuffle in the team with the captain Stephan Janse van Rensburg moving to flyhalf, while Maartens moved from flank to the winger and Wilhandré “Rooies” Kotzenberg coming off the bench into the second round.

This gave the backline a lot more punch, with the ever exciting Maartens excelling in the backline.

Shortly after interval, the scrumhalf Dian Badenhorst crashed over for a Shimlas try before the man of the match, Daniel Maartens, scored an outstanding try three minutes later for the bonus point.

The eighth man, Nardus Erasmus, scored a fifth try for the 2015 champions, while Wandile Mazibuko and Morné Strydom scored late tries for the visitors.

Skipper Janse van Rensburg told OFM Sport that Maartens is indeed a very special player and fully deserves to wear the pink shorts against the Maties next week. 

“Daniel is a really talented player and we’re really blessed to have him in the team. 

"When he was told to move to the wing there were no questions, he just did it. When he gets a little space he can really cause a lot of damage. 

"He has the speed to back it as well. I’m really proud of him”.

The win sets up what is expected to be a cracking game next week Monday with the log-leading Maties heading to the City of Roses.

Both the Shimlas and Maties are on 19 points after five rounds, but the side from Stellenbosch leads the standings due to points difference.

Varsity Cup Round Six fixtures – 16:45 Tuks vs. CUT Ixias – Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria (TV); 18:30 NWU Pukke vs. Wits – Fanie du Toit Sport Grounds, Potchefstroom; UJ vs. NMMU Madibaz – UJ Stadium, Johannesburg; 19:00 UFS Shimlas vs. Maties – Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (TV).

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport