Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
FNB Maties fed off the ill-discipline of FNB UJ to run in seven tries to win (49-14) at Tuks Stadium as the business end of the competition draws near. The five log points keep the men from Stellenbosch in third place on the log.
The opening 10 minutes was akin to a wrestling match with neither side being able to convert possession into points while crashing into each other at a rate of knots.
It would take a moment of foul play to awaken the full might of the Maroon Machine as FNB UJ fullback Boldwin Hansen’s high tackle on wing Munier Hartzenberg resulted in a penalty try, the first in 2021 that also counted as a point-of-origin try. Hansen served 10 minutes in the bin.
FNB Maties needed little motivation to capitalise on the numerical advantage and secured their bonus-point try by the 21st minute as Hartzenberg crossed, before his fellow wing Siba Xamlashe touched down to cap off a well-earned point-of-origin try.
Prop Dian Bleuler was credited with wrapping up the bonus point and although flyhalf Adriaan van der Bank missed the extras, he did convert both tries by the wings to inflate the scoreline to 30-0.
A period of frustration followed for the five-time champions but they did strike just before half-time when hooker HJ Luus profited off a strong drive.
It was sparse pickings when the match resumed, though, as it took FNB Maties 16 minutes to extend their lead, with inside centre Taigh Schoor dotting down a converted try, before replacement hooker André-Hugo Venter was shown a yellow.
The Orange Army finally etched their name on the scoreboard as replacement prop Nkosikhona Masuku powered over like an angry elephant and flyhalf Jurich Claasens’ conversion reduced the lead to the half-time deficit.
However, FNB UJ then lost No 8 and captain Kwagga van Niekerk and flank Kelvin Kanekungo to yellow cards.
Down to 13 men, one would expect FNB UJ to shore up on defence but they were able to score a converted point-of-origin try to replacement loose forward Franco Schutte.
FNB UJ’s ill-discipline continued when replacement prop Coenrad Very was red-carded for a swinging arm before FNB Maties shut proceedings down with a try courtesy of Venter.
FNB Player That Rocks: Munier Hartzenberg (FNB Maties)
FNB Maties – Tries: Penalty try (1x9), Munier Hartzenberg, Siba Xamlashe (1x7), Dian Bleuler, HJ Luus, Taigh Schoor, André-Hugo Venter. Conversions: Adriaan van der Bank (2), Juan Mostert (2).
FNB UJ – Tries: Nkosikhona Masuku, Franco Schutte (1x7). Conversion: Jurich Claasens.