The Ikeys thrashed the Shimlas 65-30 in the first semi-final after leading the game 37-7 at halftime.

A first-half Blitzkrieg at Shimla Park saw the team from Cape Town put themselves in a combating position before the interval with the 8th-man Laro Delport and the lock Reynhardt Crous scoring within the first ten minutes of the game.

Further tries by the winger Ntokozo Makhaza and the hooker Keagan Blanckenberg saw the visitors hold a healthy 30-point lead at the break.

On the stroke of half-time the flyhalf, Litha Nkula scored a try that Ethan Wentzel converted to get the Shimlas on the board.

UCT started their second half the same way they got the game under way with the fullback, Duran Koevort, darting over for a brace of tries. Further tries by the flyhalf David Hayes and the replacement Lezane Davis sealed the deal for the Ikeys as they reached the final for a second time in three years.

Further tries by the scrumhalf Chadd Adams, the replacement winger Javier Farmer and winger Asanda Kunene served as nothing more than a consolation for the outgoing Shimlas.

A disappointed Shimlas captain, Thabang Mahlasi, who was playing in his last Varsity Cup game, told OFM Sport that they were simply outplayed.

“In the beginning, they had a lot of momentum and we were struggling to get that ourselves.

“We struggled with the folding and the numbers on the edges and that's where they capitalised.

“It was so close, yet so far. I just want to say thank you to the fans because they made it a bit bearable. It's a part of rugby, depending on who shows up on the day. Maybe we didn't show up.”

The Ikeys will go on to tackle the North West University Eagles in the final. The Eagles in turn booked a home final with a 19-10 win over the University of Stellenbosch Maties in Potchefstroom.

Monday’s final at the Fanie du Toit Sportsgrounds kicks off at 19:00.

Shimlas: Tries - Litha Nkula, Chadd Adams, Javier Farmer, Asanda Kunene. Conv. - Ethan Wentzel 3.

Ikeys:  Tries - Laro Delport, Reynhardt Crous, Ntokozo Makhaza, Keagan Blanckenberg, Duran Koevort 2, David Hayes, Lezane Davis. Conv. - Ntokozo Makhaza 5 Pen. - Makhaza 2.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport