The flanker, Thabo Ndimande, was the hero for the Shimlas last night with a hat-trick of tries as they thumped the five-time champions 50-28 at Shimla Park.

The performance of the live-wire flanker was enough to earn him the Player That Rocks award.

The win was the Shimlas' second on the bounce and while it is still early days in the competition, they are the side to beat. The last time they managed to beat the Maties in the Varsity Cup, they went on to win the tournament for the first and only time.

Shimlas captain, Thabang Mahlasi, told OFM Sport that they had to rock up for the game.

“It's been a while that the Shimlas were able to beat Maties”, said the mobile second-rower.

“The boys knew that we had to show up for the game and it was a big match for us because it was at home in front of the Shimlas fans.

“We had to do it for ourselves as well and going forward we just have to stay humble and continue working hard.

“The intensity is part of our game plan and with the systems that we have in place, it has to happen at a high intensity. The boys stuck to the systems.”

Meanwhile, the NWU Eagles beat UWC 38-19, while in Johannesburg Wits edged the Ixias 20-18.

Shimlas: Tries - Thabo Ndimande (3), Thabang Mahlasi, Nathan Jordan, George Lourens, Jandré Nel Conv. - Litha Nkula (4) Pen. -  Nkula.

Maties: Tries - Chris Rossouw, Sean Swart, De Wet Marais, Gift Dlamini Conv. - Jurie Matthee Pen. -  Matthee (2)

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport