FNB Madibaz continued their superb run (38-28) in the FNB Varsity Shield as they saw off a spirited challenge from competition new boys FNB SPU in Gqeberha on Friday.
In weather that had it all – rain, brilliant sunshine and even fog – the home side came back from 14-0 down at one point to trump the men from Kimberley by 10 points.
FNB SPU burst out the gates with tries by Leslie Ruiters and Cassie Botes coming in the first 20 minutes.
While the home supporters were a little shell-shocked, their side refused to panic and pieced together some great moves in the tight loose to rack up three unanswered tries through scrumhalf Curwin Casper, hooker Kyle Erasmus and lock Calvin Bosch to see out the half.
Seven minutes into the second stanza, Madibaz's replacement prop Bahle Cengani got on the scoresheet as the Nelson Mandela Bay students began to up the ante.
FNB SPU did not come to the Friendly City for fun though and were soon back in the game when fullback Bokamoso Maphisa stepped and weaved his way across the whitewash.
With 13 minutes to go, Erasmus dotted down for a second time as the FNB Madibaz maul took on an ominous presence.
Yet it was still not over. A charging run by FNB SPU front-rower Aviwe Mpepo put them back in touching distance, but as thick gloom descended on the stadium, FNB Madibaz flanker Johan van Zyl put the result beyond doubt when he got on the right end of another maul to score.
Scorers:
FNB Madibaz: Tries: Curwin Casper, Kyle Erasmus (3), Calvin Bosch, Johan van Zyl. Conversions: Raashied Conrad (2), Layron Milborrow (2).
FNB SPU: Tries: Leslie Ruiters, Cassie Botes, Bokamoso Maphisa, Aviwe Mpepo. Conversions: Khanya Kama (4).
Teams:
FNB Madibaz: 1 Imibongo Mvuleni, 2 Kyle Erasmus, 3 AJ Flemming, 4 Calvin Bosch, 5 Martinus Strydom, 6 Johan van Zyl, 7 Dewald Gerber, 8 Leon van der Merwe, 9 Curwin Casper, 10 Raashied Conrad, 11 Bukho Pantsi, 12 Lwando Davane, 13 Edward Kruger, 14 Emihle Zaza, 15 Layron Milborrow. Replacements: 16 Tlhalefo Kabelo Moleko, 17 Bahle Cengani, 18 Lihlumelo Mantewu, 19 Dandre Van Jaarsveld, 20 Schalk Cannon, 21 Cameron Doyle, 22 Craig Lottering, 23 Jaden Witbooi.
FNB SPU: 1 Aviwe Mpepo, 2 Jan Potgieter, 3 Cassie Botes, 4 Tumelo Papane, 5 Lihlumelo Gunguta, 6 Thando Shipalana, 7 Tyron China,8 Gareth Maree, 9 TJ Majiedt, 10 Leslie Ruiters, 11 Liyabona Maplanga, 12 Khanya Kama (c), 13 Jaiden Faviers, 14 Dwayne Lubbe, 15 Bokamoso Maphisa. Replacements: 16 Kabelo Keagile, 17 Emile Noble, 18 Jaundre Le Roux, 19 Fredrick John Eveleigh, 20 J J Fourie, 21 Ethan Manus, 22 Raees Sahabodien, 23 Cameron Aubrey Primo.