Photo Credit: Varsity Sport
FNB CUT Ixias continued their fine start to the 2021 FNB Varsity Cup with a convincing 51-13 win against the FNB Madibaz. CUT arguable have the best pack of forwards in the Varsity Cup competition, however, their depth could become a problem. The Madibaz came back in the second half as soon as CUT replaced their front row. Two long-distance tries in the second half by CUT allowed them to get clear from a very game Madibaz team.
It took just 54 seconds for them to register their opening point-of-origin try at Loftus Versfeld, courtesy of hooker Janus Venter off the back of exceptional interplay.
The Ixias touched down a further three times to secure their bonus point as fullback Cohen Jasper broke through on two occasions to record a brace while Venter bagged his second.
The FNB Madibaz struggled at times to assert themselves but when they could muster several phases of play together, it paid off as hooker Tembekile Boltina scored off a strong lineout drive while flyhalf Tiaan Schutte landed a penalty goal for their first-half haul of eight points.
It was much the same in the second stanza as the men from Bloemfontein logged another two tries through outside centre, Niell Stannard. His first saw him run a fantastic support line to run in untouched while he collected a deft cross-kick despite the attention of several FNB Madibaz defenders to score his brace.
The period just before both strategy breaks was fruitful as NMU, like they did in the first half, scored from a lineout drive via replacement hooker Duan du Plessis.
The juggernaut that is FNB CUT finished the proceedings with a sublime try as wing Ricoman Titus sniffed a gap and bolted 40m to score try No 7 for the Ixias.
FNB Player that Rocks: Derik Pretorius (FNB CUT Ixias)
FNB Madibaz: Tries: Tembekile Boltina, Duan du Plessis. Penalty: Tiaan Schutte.
FNB CUT Ixias: Tries: Janus Venter (1x7, 1x5), Ricoman Titus, Cohen Jasper (2), Neill Stannard (2). Conversions: Charles Williams (5), Cohen Jasper.