A back-and-forth contest unfolded in Cape Town as the UTC Ikeys secured their second win of the season beating UP-Tuks 36-29 at the Green Mile.
Ntokozo Makhaza booted FNB UCT Ikeys into the lead after five minutes before scoring the first try of the match just moments later. The move started from inside UCT’s half meaning they bagged a seven-point score with Makhaza converting his try for a 12-0 lead.
Tuks got onto the scoreboard in identical fashion, as JP Wentzel slotted a penalty straight in front before Ruan van Blommestein crashed over the line – only this time the men from Pretoria couldn’t manage a seven-pointer. Wentzel made no mistake with the conversion as UCT held a slender 12-10 lead after 15 minutes.
Keagan Blanckenberg bulldozed his way over the line shortly after the minute mark while Makhaza’s kicking was once again on point.
UP-Tuks pressed on to get themselves back in the game and were rewarded for their persistence. UCT lock Enos Ndia was sent to the sin bin for foul play and the away side made that numerical advantage count as Andile Myeni strolled over UCT’s try line.
The first half came to a frantic finish as UCT’s Luke Burger slipped through a few tackles to dot down underneath the posts that sent the hosts into an 11-point lead after another Makhaza conversion. Burger went from hero to villain after receiving a yellow card for a dangerous tackle after half an hour.
The visitors capitalized on the numerical advantage once again as van Blommestein crashed over the line in the right-hand corner. JP Wentzel's conversion hit the upright and stayed out of the deficit, giving UCT a four-point lead at the break.
Both sides picked up yellow cards late into the second half as UCT captain Siphomezo Dyonase was sin-binned for a high tackle. Tuks’ Abel Pretorius then joined the UCT skipper in the bin shortly after a maul infringement.
FNB UCT made that advantage count just two minutes later as Kian Davis scored the all-important try with 12 minutes left on the clock. Tuks pushed until the final moments and threatened but it was the Ikeys who held firm and kept the visitors out for a 36-29 win at the Green Mile.
Scorers:
FNB UCT: Tries: Keagan Blanckenberg, Kian Davis, Luke Burger, Aidan Norris, Ntokozo Makhaza (point-of-origin). Conversions: Ntokozo Makhaza (4). Penalties: Ntokozo Makhaza (2).
FNB UP-Tuks: Tries: Ruan Van Blommestein (2), MJ Nel, Andile Myeni. Conversions: JP Wentzel (3). Penalty: JP Wentzel.
Teams:
FNB UCT: 1 Matthew Beckett, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 3 Bryan Le Roux, 4 Enos Ndiao, 5 Danio Botha, 6 Siphomezo Dyonase, 7 Aden Da Costa, 8 Aidan Norris, 9 Asad Moos, 10 Alex Vermeulen, 11 Ntokozo Makhaza, 12 Luke Burger, 13 Kian Davis, 14 Rethabile Louw, 15 Duran Rayn Koevort. Replacements: 16 Johan Lombard, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Ryno Loots, 19 Keenan Mills, 20 Connor Jack Gordon, 21 Monray Daars, 22 Thomas Nel, 23 Isaiah Louw.
FNB UP-Tuks: 1 MJ Nel, 2 Ruan Van Blommestein, 3 Bom Louw, 4 JW Mare, 5 David Engongo, 6 Kamohelo Tlome, 7 Cayno February, 8 Dillon Smith, 9 Chad-lee Valentine, 10 JP Wentzel, 11 Ambesa Zenzile, 12 Kobus Janse Van Rensburg, 13 Christiaan Vlok, 14 Andile Myeni, 15 Tharquinn Manuel. Replacements: 16 Edwin Till, 17 Jean Fourie, 18 Barnard Nortje, 19 Oelof De Meyer, 20 Abel Pretorius, 21 Jayden Sam, 22 Keane Galant, 23 Munashe Dukuswa.
