FNB NWU Eagles survived a late scare at the Wits Rugby Stadium to claim a gasp 39-34 win over the Witsies.
FNB Wits and NWU Eagles entered the game both winless in two attempts, with this game serving as an early do-or-die for both teams.
The game started to an expected start, with both teams going all out in a ping-pong battle. The first 30 minutes saw a low-scoring affair, with Wits scoring two penalties, courtesy of their skipper and flyhalf Setshaba Mokoena. The Eagles crossed the whitewash twice, with Tsepo Tlaka and Hanro Venter dotting down to make the score 6-12 to the visitors.
However, the Witsies ended the half on a high note after a darting run from their outside back, Liyema Matyolweni, broke the line, with Setshaba Mokoena adding a 7-point cherry on top under the posts. Mokoena then converted his try to give the hosts a 15-12 lead at the break.
The second half saw the script flip, with the NWU Eagles adding a staggering four tries to the Witsies two. It was not always smooth sailing for the visitors, who had the wind knocked out of their sails when a brilliant 7-point try by Lindani Dweba caused a late scare. The conversion attempt that would’ve levelled matters at 36 points apiece went astray.
The Eagles then had the last say, with a late penalty sealing a 39-34 victory.
Scorers:
FNB Wits: Tries: Setshaba Mokoena (point-of-origin), Drew Bennet, Lindani Dweba (point-of-origin). Conversions: Setshaba Mokoena (3). Penalties: Setshaba Mokoena (3).
FNB NWU Eagles: Tries: Tsepo Tlaka, Hanro Venter, Guhan Du Bois, Luhan van der Walt, Ricardo Fourie, Jordan Mcloughlin. Conversions: Divan Du Toit, Stehan Heymans (2). Penalty: Divan Du Toit.
Teams:
FNB Wits: 1 Dagan Meuwese, 2 Justin Amos, 3 Ricardo Brandao, 4 Kgoposto Matlena, 5 Hayden Munnery, 6 Joshua van Vreden, 7 Luke Cannon, 8 Thomas Beling, 9 Drew Bennet, 10 Setshaba Mokoena (c), 11 Ngia Selengbe, 12 Tirhani Masons, 13 Liyema Matyolweni, 14 Dustyn Holmes, 15 Lindani Dweba. Replacements: 16 Paoliantinio Mariano, 17 Thomas Meintjies, 18 Waldo Muller, 19 Joshua Ferreira, 20 Risima Khosa, 21 Tristan Van Niekerk, 22 Tireque Apolles, 23 Keith Chirwa.
NWU Eagles: 1 Alethwa Buthelezi, 2 Hanro Venter, 3 Ntobeko Shezi, 4 Tsepo Tlaka, 5 Stephan Krugel (c), 6 Guhan Du Bois, 7 Schalk Van Schalkwyk, 8 Sean Roulston, 9 Divan Du Toit, 10 Stehan Heymans, 11 Joubert Schoeman, 12 Isrome Phatudi, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 14 Naiden Jaarts, 15 Luan Van der Walt. Replacements: 16 Jordan Mcloughlin, 17 Jaco Du Toit, 18 Bradley Stanfliet, 19 Tian Van Zyl, 20 Ricardo Fourie, 21 Sanele Zungu, 22 Indiphile Tyeda, 23 Nico Liversage.