Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
Lusanda Xakwana kicked eight penalty goals as the FNB TUT Vikings began their FNB Varsity Shield campaign with a confidence-boosting win (31-24).
The flyhalf also slotted a conversion to finish with a 26-point haul that earned him the FNB Player That Rocks award.
FNB UFH outscored their opponents by three tries to one, with their first coming in just the second minute of the match through flyhalf Apiwe Sidloyi.
FNB TUT pulled one back through prop Ruhan Oosthuizen but after flank Laro Delport was sent to the sin bin, they had a kick charged down which resulted in a try to Blues centre Keith Chiwara.
FNB TUT won the scrum battle and had a big kicking weapon in Xakwana, whose four penalties helped give the Pretoria side a 22-14 half-time lead.
Wing Lukho Jongizulu did well to score FNB UFH’s third try when he grounded the ball on the line after it had been kicked ahead in the 50th minute, and the conversion made it a one-point game.
While FNB TUT flank Phuzukuvela Sithole was yellow-carded, Xakwana kicked three penalties in the final 15 minutes to secure the win.
FNB Player That Rocks: Lusanda Xakwana (FNB TUT)
FNB UFH Blues: Tries: Apiwe Sidloyi, Keith Chiwara, Lukho Jongizulu. Conversions: Brandt Fields (3). Penalty: Brandt Fields.
FNB TUT Vikings: Try: Ruhan Oosthuizen. Conversion: Lusanda Xakwana. Penalties: Lusanda Xakwana (8).