Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
FNB UP-Tuks dominated the second half of this match at Tuks Stadium to claim their third successive win with 33-15. The tournament hosts once again recovered from a slow start, having trailed 10-9 at the break with the Eagles pack of forwards who completely dominated that of TUKS. A special mention of the loosies of TUKS who took special care of TUKS' ball on the ground.
After back-to-back Player That Rocks performances, hooker Gustav du Rand opened the scoring for the FNB NWU Eagles, with Keagan Fortune making the conversion look easy.
Fullback Zander du Plessis got FNB UP-Tuks on the board when he slotted a mammoth 55m penalty, which he followed shortly afterwards with another from just inside opposition territory.
Fortune’s penalty gave the FNB NWU Eagles a 10-6 lead, before FNB UP-Tuks prop Dewald Donald was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Du Plessis then made it a one-point game when he kicked a touchline penalty.
FNB UP-Tuks stepped up a gear in the second half, with Du Plessis’ fourth penalty followed by a try to No 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, who found space out wide to sneak in the corner.
Just as the Eagles looked like they were getting back into the game, scrumhalf Riaan Genis was yellow-carded and FNB UP-Tuks flank Eduan Lubbe made them pay for it with a try.
Scrumhalf Clyde Lewis then raced away for the hosts’ third try, with Du Plessis’ conversion completing a perfect night with the boot.
Replacement Jandré de Beer scored a try for the FNB NWU Eagles after the hooter but it was FNB UP-Tuks who celebrated a third successive win.
FNB Player That Rocks: Zander du Plessis (FNB UP-Tuks)
FNB NWU Eagles: Tries: Gustav du Rand, Jandré de Beer. Conversion: Keagan Fortune. Penalty: Keagan Fortune.
FNB UP-Tuks: Tries: Jaco Bezuidenhout, Eduan Lubbe, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (3). Penalty: Zander Du Plessis (4).