Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
FNB Wits flyhalf Keagan Lailvaux kicked an 81st-minute drop goal to break FNB UJ (22-20) hearts in the Johannesburg derby.
FNB Wits’ third win of the campaign saw them leapfrog FNB UJ into eighth place on the FNB Varsity Cup log.
FNB UJ had only themselves to blame for the loss as their indiscipline resulted in four yellow cards – two in each half.
FNB UJ flyhalf Jurich Claasens kicked an early penalty before scrumhalf Mpho Kubheka scored in the corner following a powerful driving maul to make it 8-0 after 20 minutes.
However, Kubheka became the first FNB UJ player to be yellow-carded and two minutes later FNB Wits scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula dived over for a try, which Lailvaux converted. Claasens was then sent to the sin bin on the stroke of half-time.
An immense defensive effort from FNB Wits saw FNB UJ twice held up over the tryline early in the second half, but the Orange Army finally cracked the defence when replacement prop Kayden Kiewit bullied his way over the tryline.
FNB UJ replacement lock Philip Apea-Adu was yellow-carded in the 61st minute and FNB Wits fullback Setshaba Mokoena got his name on the scoresheet shortly after.
No sooner had FNB UJ been restored to 15 men than centre Indiphile Tyeda was sent to the sin bin and like clockwork FNB Wits scored through Ndudula to take a 19-15 lead.
Winger Nkondlo Radebe got FNB UJ back in front when he rounded off a good try, but they conceded a late penalty which allowed FNB Wits to attack again and set Lailvaux up in the pocket for a drop goal. The flyhalf made no mistake to turn Johannesburg royal blue.
FNB Player That Rocks: Hlumelo Ndudula (FNB Wits)
FNB UJ – Tries: Mpho Kubheka, Kayden Kiewit, Nkondlo Radebe. Conversion: Jurich Claasens. Penalty: Jurich Claasens.
FNB Wits – Tries: Hlumelo Ndudula (2), Setshaba Mokoena. Conversions: Keagan Lailvaux (2). Drop goal: Keagan Lailvaux