The Ixias - who at one stage were considered to be title contenders - simply outclassed the Madibaz as they trashed the team from Gqeberha 91-10 to show exactly why they still belong in the Varsity Cup next season.

The Ixias started like a house on fire and after taking a 42-10 lead at the half time break there was no stopping them.

The Ixias managed to score 13 tries in total with Ricoman Titus, Xavier Swartbooi and Zachary Bester all crossing the whitewash for a brace of tries. Further tries by Kevin Strydom, Jandré de Beer, Zean Augustyn, Jan-Hendrik Bessenger, Janco Cloete, Trevino Swartz and Matthew Sekele nearly saw the team from Bloemfontein record a century. In addition, the flyhalf Chris Rheeder had an outstanding day with the boot by adding 22 points through eleven conversions.

The Madibaz points came via a Chadwyn November try, while the fullback Kehan Myburgh landed a conversion and a penalty.  

The Ixias get to fight another season by they will be without several of their star players going forward as they have reached the maximum age limit of 25-years-old to be eligible to play in the Varsity Cup. It is believed that this age limit may be dropped to 23-year-old for next season and beyond.

The Ixias coach, Melusi Mthethwa, told OFM Sport that they win was a perfect farewell gift to his departing players.

“I'm chuffed and happy with what happened in the game,” said Mthethwa after his first season as a head coach in the Varsity Cup.

“I'm excited for the boys and it was a good farewell gift to the boys that are leaving. It was a present for them to say go well.

“We need to enjoy this moment and comeback on Wednesday. We will plan a bosberaad or something like that to plot the way forward.”

While the Ixias were in the unfortunate position of having to play in a promotion-relegation match, that was simply due to the exceptionally competitive nature of the 2023 Varsity Cup. The Ixias will hold their heads high after brilliant wins over Tuks, the Maties in Stellenbosch and UJ in Johannesburg.

It is believed that at least one of the Ixias players has been picked up by on of the big unions in South Africa.

CUT Ixias: Kevin Strydom, Jandré de Beer, Ricoman Titus (2), Zean Augustyn, Xavier Swartbooi (2), Jan-Hendrik Bessenger, Zachary Bester (2), Janco Cloete, Trevino Swartz, Matthew Sekele Conv. - Chris Rheeder (11)

Madibaz: Try - Chadwyn November Conv. - Kehan Myburgh Pen. - Myburgh.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport

Watch Zac Bester scoring one of his two seven-point tries