The FNB CUT Ixias broke their three-match losing streak in the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday night with a crucial 34-28 bonus-point victory over FNB Wits in Bloemfontein.
The win was vital in ensuring the Ixias avoid automatic relegation this season. However, with one round still to play, anything can happen in a week of rugby and a relegation playoff still looms.
The Ixias opened the scoring in their must-win encounter when hooker Tokelo Ntaopane dotted down from a powerful lineout maul in their first entry into the 22m area.
This was the first of his three tries. Almost immediately, the visitors from Johannesburg struck back, with flanker Joshua van Vreden slicing through the CUT defence for a converted try. Wits then doubled their lead minutes later when live-wire 8th-man Christopher Kachungunu crashed over after sustained pressure.
The Ixias had the final say in the first half, with both locks, Kevin Strydom and Asekho Marubelela, crossing the try line to edge into a 17-14 lead at the break.
In the second half, Ntaopane completed his brace before play was suspended for more than an hour and a half due to lightning. Replacement tighthead prop Sibusiso Shongwe scored his first of two tries to keep Wits in the fight when play resumed, but CUT responded, with Jan-Hendrik Bessenger dotting down before Ntaopane powered over for his hat-trick.
Shongwe had the final say in the game, completing his brace to reduce the deficit to just six points, but it wasn’t enough to save Wits from automatic relegation.
As things stand, the Ixias may avoid the relegation playoff, but their fate depends on UJ’s result against the UCT Ikeys next week, while they will want to upset the NWU Eagles at the Fanie.
Scorers:
FNB CUT: Tries: Tokelo Ntaopane (3), Kevin Strydom, Asekho Marubelela, Jan-Hendrik Bessenger. Conversions: Matthys Corneluis Malan (2).
FNB WITS: Tries: Joshuan van Vreden, Christopher Kachungunu, Sibusiso Shongwe. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (2), Tireque Apolles (2).
Teams:
FNB CUT: 15 Devinto Vergotine, 14 Clive Hartzenberg, 13 Liam Prinsloo, 12 Jean Swart, 11 Zachery Bester, 10 MC Malan, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 8 Francois Bester (c), 7 Tsebano Stemer, 6 JT van der Walt, 5 Kevin Strydom, 4 Asekho Marubelela, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 2 Tokelo Ntaopane, 1 Jan-Hendrik Bessenger. Replacements: 16 Leon Johan Franszen, 17 Mamello Moshoaliba, 18 Malcolm Lamont, 19 Jean Louis Theron, 20 Luvuyo Selebalo, 21 Jeric Estree, 22 Jordan Davids, 23 Rorisang Masoeu.
FNB WITS: 15 Lindani Dweba, 14 Dustyn Holmes, 13 Kevon Chirwa, 12 Setshaba Mokoena (c), 11 Kevon Chirwa, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Drew Bennet, 8 Christopher Kachungunu, 7 Thando Biyela, 6 Joshua van Vreden, 5 Hayden Munnery, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Dagan Meuwese, 1 Ricardo Brandao. Replacements: 16 Justin Amos, 17 Thomas Meintjies, 18 Waldo Muller, 19 Joshua Ferreira, 20 Luke Cannon, 21 Sabelo Shangase, 22 Tireque Apolles, 23 Ngia Selengbe.