FNB UFS Shimlas fought hard to claim a 26-15 bonus-point win against FNB UP-Tuks and consolidate their position at the top of the FNB Varsity Cup log. The heavy rain in Bloemfontein on Monday took its toll on the pitch and many feared that the conditions might inhibit the hosts’ attacking ambitions.
Those fears proved unfounded, though, when Shimlas took the fight to the highly-rated Tuks pack and then unleashed their dangerous backs to score three tries inside 35 minutes. The players left the field for a brief period due to lightning in the area. When the teams returned, FNB UFS Shimlas struggled to regain the initiative.
The visitors hit back in the second half via two well-executed mauls. Stefan Coetzee’s conversion brought FNB UP-Tuks within four points of the hosts with nine minutes left on the clock. The hosts had the final say, though, scoring in the last minute to secure the four-try bonus point and an important win.
With one round to play, FNB UFS Shimlas are well placed to top the FNB Varsity Cup log. By contrast, FNB UP-Tuks – who claimed no log points from the fixture in Bloem – may need a win against FNB UJ next week to advance to the semi-finals.
Scorers:
FNB UFS Shimlas 26 (19) – Tries: Jooste Nel, Ruwald van der Merwe, Litha Nkula, Nqobani Dlamini. Conversions: Litha Nkula (3).
FNB UP-Tuks 15 (3) – Tries: Mihlali Stamper, Allister Williams. Conversion: Stefan Coetzee. Penalty: Walter Visser.
FNB Player That Rocks: Thabo Ndimande (FNB UFS Shimlas)
Teams:
FNB UFS Shimlas – 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Zane Bester, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Asanda Kunene, 10 George Lourens, 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Lourens Oosthuizen, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Thabang Mahlasi (c), 4 Pierre Uys, 3 Blaine Golden, 2 Carl Wijburg, 1 Melusi Mthabela. Replacements: 16 Wihan Marais, 17 Loyiso Peteni, 18 Reinhardt Nel, 19 Reinier Viljoen, 20 Nathan Jordan, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Kwezi Dlamini, 23 Cham Zondeki.
FNB UP-Tuks – 15 Clyde Lewis, 14 Kabelo Mokoena, 13 Zander Reynders, 12 Lincoln Daniels (c), 11 Tharquinn Manuel, 10 Walter Visser, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Orateng Koikanyang, 7 Divan Venter, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Roald Hattingh, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 André van der Merwe. Replacements: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Henry Till, 18 Daniël Wessels, 19 Kabasele Nkombua, 20 Dian Schoonees, 21 Chad-Lee Valentine, 22 Stephan Coetzee, 23 Ambesa Zenzile.