The North-West University (NWU) kicked off its 2018 Varsity Cup campaign with an emphatic 70-7 win over CUT in Potchefstroom on Monday night, 29 January 2018.

The home crowd on the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds was treated to nine tries from the NWU who donned their new purple kit for the first time. Wing Dean Gordon and flanker Estehan Visagie scored a brace each, while Walt Steenkamp, Tapiwa Mafura, Gideon van der Merwe, Hendrik Marais and Evardi Boshoff each crossed the whitewash once. Visagie was also name the Player that Rocks.

Flyhalf Schalk Hugo slotted seven conversions and one penalty.

This is the perfect start to the season for coach Jonathan Mokuena’s team and, with a bye in round two, there is plenty of time in front of the chalkboard to iron out some early season creases before they face UCT in Cape Town at the CUT Stadium.

This stadium is notoriously difficult to navigate – with erratic winds that are the stuff of legend or, in the case of opposition teams, nightmares.