Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
FNB UP-Tuks centre Zandré Kruger missed an 83rd-minute conversion as FNB CUT claimed a one-point win at Loftus Versfeld to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Leading 41-33, FNB CUT looked set to run down the clock, only to concede a turnover with seconds remaining. FNB UP-Tuks then did brilliantly to take the ball through 15-plus phases before replacement winger Enrique Cronjé scored a point-of-origin try two minutes into stoppage time.
However, the conversion – from a relatively difficult angle considering the pressure situation – went wide, much to FNB CUT’s delight.
The Ixias will now face the FNB NWU Eagles on Tuesday in a rescheduled Round 7 match that will effectively be a quarter-final.
FNB CUT took an early 8-0 lead in this match when a penalty from flyhalf Charles Williams was followed by the first of four maul tries to hooker Janus Venter.
FNB CUT's forwards asserted their dominance once again when captain Luvoyo Ndevu scored and Williams' conversion made it 15-0.
FNB UP-Tuks got back into the game when centre Louritz van der Schyff powered over for a try, and hooker André van der Merwe added another to reduce the deficit to three.
FNB UP-Tuks captain Eduan Lubbe put his team back into the lead, only for Venter to complete his hat-trick. Fullback Cohen Jasper converted the hooker’s third to make it 27-19 at half-time.
FNB UP-Tuks hooker André van der Merwe and flank Llewellyn Classen were both yellow-carded for cynical infringements late in the first half and they were still off the field when Jasper finished off a point-of-origin try for the Ixias early in the second.
Kruger’s converted try gave FNB UP-Tuks hope at 41-24 and when they were awarded a penalty try in the 71st minute, after Williams deliberately knocked the ball on, they were right back in the game.
Williams was yellow-carded and flank Ulrich Stander joined him in the sin bin in the 77th minute, but while 13-man FNB CUT did eventually concede a try, they were able to start celebrating when the conversion went wide.
FNB Player That Rocks: Xander Botha (FNB CUT)
FNB UP-Tuks – Tries: Louritz van der Schyff, André van der Merwe, Eduan Lubbe, Zandré Kruger, penalty try, Enrique Cronjé (1x7). Conversions: Jaylen James (3).
FNB CUT Ixias – Tries: Janus Venter (4), Luvoyo Ndevu, Cohen Jasper (1x7). Conversions: Charles Williams, Jasper (2). Penalty: Williams.