FNB CUT prevailed 38-21 against hosts FNB UWC in a wet, rain-soaked and error-ridden encounter at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town. The half-time score was 33-7.
As would be expected when torrents of rain bucket down on a rugby field, there were plenty of errors. But that didn’t prevent the Ixias from scoring two tries (Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith) within 15 minutes and racing to a 14-point lead.
The period following the first-half strategy break was a discipline nightmare for UWC with three yellow cards and a red card in quick succession. The relentless pressure CUT was applying paid dividends.
The visitors added three more tries before the halftime siren with Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, and Asekho Marubelela all getting their name added to the try-scoring sheet.
Stand-in Udubs captain, Romuad Nsombamanya, who took over the leadership from injured Tasriq Mynhardt, scored the hosts' only first-half try with Wian van der Sandt adding the extras off the tee.
Despite a valiant effort and two late second-half tries from UWC, they left it too late. This was Paul Treu's third consecutive loss in their return to the Varsity Cup fold.
Scorers
FNB UWC: Tries: Romuad Nsombamanya, Keanuh Michaels, Conwill Conradie. Conversions: Wian van der Sandt, Conwill Conradie (2).
FNB CUT: Tries: Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith, Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, Asekho Marubelela, Raydon Swartbooi. Conversions: Juan Smith (3).
FNB Player That Rocks: Liam Prinsloo (FNB CUT)
FNB UWC: 1 Hlonela Qelile, 2 Joshua Eras, 3 Keanuh Cameron Michaels, 4 Michail Kasfikis, 5 Carel Van der Merwe, 6 Romuad Nsombamanya, 7 Louan De Lange, 8 Tyrone Farren Maritz, 9 Wian Van der Sandt, 10 Nhlamulo Emmanuel Shilubane, 11 Hlomla Ncana, 12 Bryan John Breda, 13 Emile Silvis, 14 Will Bradford Vraagom, 15 Jean Jacques van Schalkwyk.
FNB CUT: 1 Mamello Moshoaliba,2 Albertus Human Venter, 3 Sisipho Nofuya, 4 Asekho Phindile Marubelela, 5 Kevin Strydom, 6 Tsebano Edward Stemer, 7 Jacobus Johannes Cloete, 8 Tjaart Jurie Van der Walt, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 10 Juan Arnold Smith, 11 Zachery Bester, 12 Septimus Dercksen, 13 Liam Prinsloo, 14 Adielson Gouveia, 15 Natanael Young.