Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
Zander du Plessis broke the record for most points scored in an FNB Varsity Cup season as FNB UP-Tuks ended FNB Maties’ reign as champions with a 44-35 win.
The fullback surpassed former FNB UCT flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’ haul of 136 points from the 2012 season and will go into Monday’s final with his tally of 145.
The Stripe Generation had a score to settle with their old foe, especially after losing out to them in the league stage.
Winger Stefan Coetzee opened their account in the fifth minute and while Du Plessis missed two early shots at goal, he then landed two penalty goals and converted flyhalf David Coetzer's five-pointer.
The Maroon Machine only had a solitary penalty goal via flyhalf Adriaan van der Bank for their first-half contribution to the scoreboard.
The second half proved to be a points fiesta as FNB Maties wing Munier Hartzenberg touched down a converted try before FNB UP-Tuks struck back with a try to flank Stephan Smit and Coetzee's second, which was recorded as a point-of-origin try.
The Maroon Machine woke up in the final 20 minutes as wing Siba Xamlashe scored two point-of-origin tries either side of FNB UP-Tuks scrumhalf Clyde Lewis’ simple support-running try.
FNB Maties flank Mitchell Carstens’ 77th-minute converted try reduced the deficit to nine points, but it was FNB UP-Tuks who celebrated winning a late breakdown penalty and the match.
FNB Player That Rocks: Zander du Plessis (FNB UP-Tuks)
FNB Maties – Tries: Munier Hartzenberg, Siba Xamlashe (2x7), Mitchell Carstens. Conversions: Adriaan van der Bank, Nevaldo Fleurs (3). Penalty: Adriaan Van der Bank.
FNB UP-Tuks – Tries: Stefan Coetzee (1x5, 1x7), David Coetzer, Stephan Smit, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (4). Penalties: Zander Du Plessis (3).
FNB Maties – 15 Juan Mostert, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits (c), 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Siba Xamlashe, 10 Adriaan van der Bank, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Thys Kitshoff, 7 Gift Dlamini, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Duncan du Buisson, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16 Abri Coetzee, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 James Combrink, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Jesse Johnson, 21 Tomas Bursey, 22 Waqar Solaan, 23 Nevaldo Fleurs.
FNB UP-Tuks – 15 Zander du Plessis, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe (c), 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Tharquin Manuel, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Louis Meiring, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Damien Swartz, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Cebo Dlamini. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Orateng Koikanyang, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Enrique Oranje, 23 Ambesa Zenzeli.