FNB UFS Shimlas showed their attacking teeth when they ran in eight tries against FNB UWC in Bellville.
Before this year’s tournament, UWC coach Paul Treu highlighted the threat of the Shimlas management team. Andre Tredoux, Swys de Bruin and other big names such as Hendro Scholtz and Tiaan Liebenberg were all expected to revive the Bloemfontein-based team's attack.
Treu’s worst fears were realised when a new-look Shimlas side ripped his UWC charges to shreds in the first match of the season. The visitors were utterly relentless, scoring five unanswered tries in the first half.
Discipline was a problem for the hosts. UWC conceded a number of penalties, two yellow cards, as well as a penalty try.
Shimlas stretched their lead to 42 points before UWC finally troubled the scorers. Despite a late fightback by the hosts, the visitors still managed to rack up a half-century of points.
After the first round, Shimlas sit at the top of the FNB Varsity Cup log by virtue of their outstanding points difference of 40.
FNB Player That Rocks: Chadd Adams (FNB UFS Shimlas)
FNB UWC: Tries: Gilroy-Lee Philander, Peter Williams (POR). Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (2).
FNB UFS Shimlas: Tries: Nathan Jordan, Ruwald van der Merwe, Litha Nkula (POR), Janco Klinck (POR), penalty try, Thabo Ndimande, Cham Zondeki (POR), Kwezi Dlamini. Conversions: Litha Nkula (4).
FNB UWC – 15 Tiaan-Thomas Henecke, 14 Will Vraagom, 13 Aydon Topley, 12 Lyle Hendricks (c), 11 Peter Williams, 10 Hanno van Biljon, 9 Conwill Conradie, 8 Shaine Orderson, 7 Godfrey Muzanarwo, 6 Nicholas Chipanje, 5 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 4 Reece Bocks, 3 Riaan van der Merwe, 2 Mauritz Swart, 1 Keon Links. Replacements: 16 Andries Engelbrecht, 17 Keanuh Michaels, 18 Justin Theys, 19 Jacques Mostert, 20 Angelo Rossouw, 21 Bradman Grove, 22 Thandile Hoyi, 23 Gilroy Lee Philander.
FNB UFS Shimlas – 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Asanda Kunene, 13 Janco Klinck, 12 Janco van Heyningen, 11 Cham Zondeki, 10 George Lourens, 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Lourens Oosthuizen, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Thabang Mahlasi (c), 4 Nathan Jordan, 3 Matthew Golden, 2 Carl Wijburg, 1 Johan Schutte. Replacements: 16 William Moffat, 17 Melusi Mthabela, 18 Jan Meades, 19 Reinier Viljoen, 20 Kwezi Dlamini, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Jooste Nel, 23 Luyanda Mkhize.