Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
FNB UCT remained unbeaten as they scored eight tries against Shimlas at Loftus Versfeld to win 59-5. Ikeys dominated from the start and never took their foot off the gas. Once again a brilliant performance from the Cape Town boys.
It certainly didn't help that Shimlas were red-carded twice although they returned to their full complement after two sets of 15 minutes in accordance with FNB Varsity Cup law variations.
Ikeys were ruthless throughout the first half as they attacked Shimlas’ fringe defence at will but it was the men from Bloemfontein who scored first as silky hands across the backline put fullback Cham Zondeki over in the corner.
This proved to be the last time they would threaten the scoreboard as FNB UCT switched gears and crossed the chalk on four occasions. Lock Connor Evans and fullback Athi Gazi bagged five-pointers while wing Rethabile Louw finished two brilliant point-of-origin tries which, along with flyhalf James Tedder's two conversions and a penalty, inflated the score to 31-5 at the break.
The second half started off with a bang as Gazi crossed for his brace in a spectacular point-of-origin try before the match dissolved into an untidy affair.
FNB UFS Shimlas did well to halt the juggernaut for a while but couldn't contain the near incessant phases of attack by FNB UCT Ikeys as they dotted down a further three tries courtesy of outside centre Evardi Boshoff, replacement flyhalf David Hayes and No 8 Christian Stehlik.
FNB Player That Rocks: Neil Otto (FNB UCT Ikeys)
FNB UFS Shimlas – Try: Cham Zondeki.
FNB UCT Ikeys – Tries: Connor Evans, Rethabile Louw (2x7), Athi Gazi (1x5, 1x7), Evardi Boshoff, David Hayes, Christian Stehlik. Conversions: James Tedder (2), Michael Brink (3). Penalty: James Tedder.
FNB UFS Shimlas – 15 Cham Zondeki, 14 Luyanda Mkhize, 13 Shayne Bolton, 12 Janco Klinck, 11 Francois Agenbag, 10 JP Duvenage, 9 Rewan Kruger (c), 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Uzile Tele, 6 Kamohelo Chabana, 5 Thabang Mahlasi, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 Tshepo Nchabeng, 2 Carl Wijburg, 1 Johan Schutte. Replacements: 16 William Moffat, 17 Daniel Wessels, 18 Henty Beukes, 19 George Rossouw, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Hlumelo Klaas, 22 Ethan Wentzel, 23 Ayabonga Matroos.
FNB UCT Ikeys – 15 Athi Gazi, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Michael Brink, 11 Liam Kloosman, 10 James Tedder, 9 William Rose, 8 Christian Stehlik, 7 Neil Otto, 6 Liam Greenhalgh (c), 5 Connor Evans, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Devon Arendse, 1 Luthando Woji. Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Phelelani Zuma, 18 Marvin Christians, 19 Byron Bowes, 20 Byron Cranswick, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 David Hayes, 23 Duran Koevort.