Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
After losing all five of their matches in last year’s FNB Varsity Cup, FNB UJ were hoping to make a winning start to the 2021 tournament. However, it was FNB CUT Ixias who made an early statement with a six-try, bonus-point win (46 - 13). UJ are completely out of their depth in this competition while the growth at CUT has to be acknowledged. CUT is going to cause a few major upsets in this tournament.
It was set up by the FNB CUT pack, who dominated the FNB UJ scrum throughout. As a result, Ixias tighthead prop Janu Botha won the FNB Player That Rocks award.
The Bloemfontein university’s first four tries were all scored by forwards – flank Johannes Terblanche, lock Brendon Fortuin, hooker Janus Venter and No 8 Ulrich Stander, who burst away down the left touchline to score a point-of-origin try in the corner.
Stander’s seven-pointer gave FNB CUT a 26-6 lead after 50 minutes and while winger Prince Nkabinde’s try gave FNB UJ hope, Ixias flyhalf Charles Williams’ boot and two tries from fullback Cohen Jasper completed a convincing win. Jasper stepped past two defenders during a brilliant run to score his second.
FNB Player that Rocks: Janu Botha (FNB CUT)
FNB CUT Ixias: Tries: Johannes Terblanche, Brendon Fortuin, Janus Venter, Ulrich Stander (1x7) Cohen Jasper (2). Conversions: Charles Williams (4). Penalties: Charles Williams (2).
FNB UJ: Try: Prince Nkabinde. Conversion: Jonathan Viljoen. Penalties: Jonathan Viljoen (2).