The FNB UFS Shimlas held on for a narrow 49-45 win against the FNB UJ at Shimla Park during the third round of the FNB Varsity Cup.
In what was a thriller written in two halves, Shimlas dominated the opening 40 minutes, but the Orange Army fought like Trojans in the second stanza.
Shimlas wasted no time in registering the first points of the match, with fiery flanker Ramon Uys crossing the try line. Flyhalf Bradley Giddy slotted the conversion and added a monster 55m penalty shortly after. UJ struck back through hooker Ryan Marimo, but their joy was short-lived as Uys went over for his brace.
Centre Adriano Jackson managed to score a point-of-origin try for the visitors, reducing the deficit to just three points. However, a try by hooker Vice Hofmeyer and a point-of-origin try by scrumhalf Hlumelo Klaas saw Shimlas secure a bonus point and take a commanding 40-14 lead at half-time.
In the second 40-minute period, UJ took the game to the defending champions, capitalising as the home team played with 14 men for 20 minutes following yellow cards to loosehead prop Ntokozo Hlophe and replacement forward Marno Stopforth.
A second try by Jackson, along with scores from Dylan Viljoen, Ughan Africa, and Alzeadon Felix, nearly saw UJ over the line. However, they were denied by a crucial seven-point try from Lilitha Lunqe, which put the game out of reach.
Scorers:
FNB UFS: Tries: Ramon Uys (2), Liam Shamburg, Vice Hofmeyer, Hlumelo Klaas (point-of-origin), Lilitha Lunqe (point-of-origin). Conversions: Bradley Giddy (6). Penalty: Bradley Giddy (3).
FNB UJ: Tries: Ryan Marimo, Adriano Jackson (one point-of-origin) (2), Dylan Viljoen, Ughan Africa, Alzeadon Felix (point-of-origin). Conversions:
Teams:
FNB UFS: 15 Regan Izaks, 14 Kirwin du Preez, 13 Nkoka Ngobe, 12 Alwich van der Linde, 11 Lilitha Lunqe, 10 Bradley Gibby, 9 Hlumelo Klaas, 8 Maynard Kleynhans, 7 Liam Shmaburg, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 Ben Pitout, 2 Vice Hofmeyer, 1 Ntokozo Hlope. Replacements: 16 Marnus Winter, 17 Conley Pieterse, 18 Ongeziwe Mobo, 19 Marno Stopforth, 20 Yaseen Arendse, 21 Dubs Dlamini, 22 Stiaan Genis, 23 Shaun Ray.
FNB UJ: 15 Oela Blaauw, 14 Michail Damon, 13 Adriano Jackson, 12 Reuven Ferreira, 11 Ughan Africa, 10 Alzeadon Felix, 9 Zian Cilliers, 8 Dylan Viljoen, 7 Muzuva Gutu, 6 Siyamukela Ndlovu, 5 Josh du Toit, 4 Neil Hansen, 3 Ali Gqaza, 2 Ryan Marimo, 1 Damian Baker. Replacements: 16 Jarrad Jordaan, 17 Angelo Dube, 18 Marnus Swarts, 19 Jaden Baillie, 20 Samuel Klinkert, 21 Berwyn Bosch, 22 Okwan Oavane, 23 Gregory Van Der Bank.