Photo Credit - Varsity Shield
The FNB TUT Vikings had to pull out all the stops to beat the FNB UKZN Impi with 22-3.
History backed the Impi but it was the Vikings who rewrote it as they secured only their third win from 12 meetings. They controlled large swathes of the match, especially at the set-pieces.
Both teams expressed their frustration as discipline occasionally slipped, with FNB TUT prop Ruhan Oosthuizen cooling off for 10 minutes for a dangerous tackle just before the break while his opposite number Minenhle Ngubane was shown a straight red card for the same offence mere minutes later.
According to FNB Varsity Shield competition rules, Ngubane was replaced by another Impi player after 15 minutes.
The first half belonged solely to FNB TUT flyhalf Lusanda Xakwana as he kicked an early penalty before scoring a brilliant solo try in the 30th minute that saw him dummy, sidestep and collect his grubber.
The Impi managed a penalty in the second stanza while Viking's scrumhalf Ethan Wilson crossed the whitewash.
FNB TUT replacement lock Thabang Malone was shown a yellow card in the 67th minute yet their defence held strong and they even scored two penalties courtesy of replacement utility back LJ Pretorius to record a well-deserved victory.
FNB Player that Rocks: Franco Stassen (FNB FNB TUT Vikings)
FNB TUT Vikings: Tries: Lusanda Xakwana, Ethan Wilson. Penalties: Xakwana (2), LJ Pretorius (2).
FNB UKZN Impi: Penalties: Sibongile Novuka.