Photo by Hansie Linde/Speedshots.co.za
The third round of the Varsity Cup did not have any surprises at all. We were robbed of the biggest surprise when TUKS came back from 7-19 at half time to steal it from UJ after the hooter. UWC again showed that they will not easily be relegated and lost 28-31 running out of time with their comeback as they trailed 12-22 at half time. Maties? And Maties just keep on winning. TUKS, Maties, Wits and the Ikeys are all still unbeaten with Wits who had a bye this week.
FNB Ikeys 31-28 FNB UWC
UWC was on the scoreboard within the first two minutes of the game. However, Ikeys immediately responded and hit their strides, finding excellent rhythm with their pack of forwards. All four opening tries coming via excellent and clinical work done by the hardmen gave the Ikeys a 22-12 lead at half time. Ikeys scored just after the 2nd half started to stretch their lead to 31-12 and the comeback of UWC started. At the end a try-saving tackle by replacement scrumhalf Liam Kloosman allowed the Ikeys to keep their unbeaten streak intact. However, the very brave effort by UWC sent a strong message that they are not going to give up their Varsity Cup status without a fight.
Scorers:
FNB UWC: Tries: Gilroy Philander (point-of-origin), Lundi Msenge (2) (1 point-of-origin). Conversions: Keagan Fortune (2). Penalty: Keagan Fortune
FNB UCT: Tries: Rayno Mapoe, David Meihuizen, James MacDonald, Cuan Hablutzel, Michael Brink (point-of-origin). Conversions: James Tedder (2).
Teams:
FNB UWC: 15 Gilroy Philander, 14 Peter Williams, 13 Schalk Carstens, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Adriaan Paarwater, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel, 3 Dandré Degenaar, 2 Jacques van Zyl (captain), 1 Luvo Bazi. Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Justin Theys, 18 Matthew le Roux, 19 Reece Bocks, 20 Branden de Kock, 21 Darren Jaftha, 22 Tiaan Henecke, 23 Keon Links.
FNB UCT: 15 James Tedder, 14 Seb Roodt, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Michael Brink, 11 Rayno Mapoe, 10 James MacDonald, 9 Kyle Bowman, 8 Busanda Mabena, 7 Neil Otto (captain), 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Byron Bowes, 3 Ashwyn Adams, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Gugu Nelani. Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Devon Arendse, 18 Luthando Woji, 19 Byron Cranswick, 20 Christian Stehlik, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Damian Rawstorne, 23 Siba Mzanywa.
FNB NWU 27-19 FNB Shimlas
NWU played for the first time at home this season and also managed their first win of the season. NWU already enjoyed a 17-09 lead at halftime despite a yellow card and a penalty try. The first points in the second half came only in the 20th minute after a converted penalty by NWU. Two tries by the visiting Shimlas and one by the hosts took the score to 27-19 for NWU which was also the final score.
Scorers:
FNB NWU: Tries: Eugene Hare, Danny du Plooy, Akhona Nela. Conversions: Wihan von Wielligh (3). Penalties: Wihan von Wielligh (2).
FNB Shimlas: Tries: Penalty try (point-of-origin), Jhaques Thyssen, Siyanda Cele.
Teams
FNB NWU: 15. Chuiner van Rooyen, 14. Lungelo Gosa, 13. Evardi Boshoff, 12. Akhona Nela, 11. Eugene Hare, 10, Wihan von Wielligh, 9. Riaan Genis, 8. Edmund Rheeder (captain), 7. Wandi Mazibuko, 6. Chris Vermaak, 5. Danny du Plooy, 4. Malembe Mpofu, 3. Matimu Manganyi, 2. Gustav du Rand, 1. Ruben du Plessis. Replacements: 16. Fanie Mare, 17. Jason Jansen, 18. Ruan Swiegers, 19. Jeandre Leonard, 20. Wihan Nel, 21. Caleb Louw, 22. Lincoln Daniels, 23. Khulu Mcuma.
FNB Shimlas: 15. Cham Zondeki, 14. Siyanda Cele, 13. Keegan Haman, 12. William Eybers (captain), 11. Marthinus Boshoff, 10. Johannes Duvenhage, 9. Rewan Kruger, 8. Albertus de Bod, 7. Jan Rossouw, 6. Mihlali Peter, 5. Keenan Murray, 4. Sibabalo Qoma, 3. Gerrit Visser, 2. Carl Wijburg, 1. Willem Marais. Replacement: 16. Jaques Thyssen, 17. Bhekinkosi Qaba, 18. Jan Meades, 19. Rholane Ncubuka, 20. Kamohelo Chabana, 21. Chadd Adams, 22. Tiaan Schutte, 23. Lourens Oosthuizen.
FNB TUKS 26-24 FNB UJ
I attended this match and must, unfortunately, admit that I was not impressed with the quality of play. UJ played their hearts out but were supposed to lose with at least 20 points, however, the TUKS team was clueless on the night and was sometimes forced into making errors but most of the times made them voluntarily.
UJ used their willing forwards to upset the TUKS teams into making several mistakes that gave the UJ boys a well deserved 19-7 lead at half time. UJ struck first in the second half to stretch their lead to 24-7, and we all thought that was it. However, TUKS refused to accept the verdict and came back with three unanswered tries to win 26-24. This was the second time the season that TUKS managed to steal a win with two points after the hooter.
One will never say no to an ugly win BUT sooner than later the wheels are going to come off for TUKS and then those silly announcers will not scream upeee, upeee they will quietly mumble wekaked wekaked.
FNB UP-Tuks: Tries: Kabelo Mokoena, Theo Boshoff, Hanru Sirgel, Lionel April. Conversions: Theo Boshoff (3).
FNB UJ: Tries: Shaun Williams (point-of-origin), Tatendaishe Mujawo (point-of-origin), André Meyer. Conversion: PW Steenkamp. Penalty: PW Steenkamp.
Teams:
FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Lionel April, 14 Ciaran Dayaram, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Theo Boshoff, 9 Raegan Oranje, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Ewart Potgieter, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Marius Verwey (captain), 4 Marcell Barnard, 3 JP Smith, 2 Daniel Claasen, 1 André van der Merwe. Replacements: 16 Arno van Wyk, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Mogau Mabokela, 19 Ewart Potgieter, 20 Jacobus Bezuidenhout, 21 Lesley October, 22 Elden Schoeman, 23 Stefanus Coetzee.
FNB UJ: 15 Shaun Williams, 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13 Musawenkosi Tshabalala, 12 Siphesihle Radebe, 11 Siphamandla Matsinya, 10 PW Steenkamp, 9 Divan Henning, 8 Edwin Jansen (captain), 7 Kwagga van Niekerk, 6 Siyabonga Masuku, 5 Simon Dionisio, 4 André Meyer, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Luke Fortuin. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Sibusiso Lali, 18 Cohen Kiewit, 19 Buhlebenkosi Qaba, 20 Kelvin Kanenungo, 21 Wynand Botha, 22 Mayibongwe Maduna, 23 Shaun-Christian Baxter.
FNB Maties 62-24 FNB CUT
Maties had a bye week to prepare but looked rusty and after the first quarter, they held a slender 5-0 lead but still managed to establish a 26-7 lead at halftime. Despite the weather, Maties delivered a workmanlike performance to win 62-24, unfortunately, it must be said that the discipline of CUT did not help and with two penalty tries being awarded to Maties.
Scorers:
FNB Maties: Tries: Anton du Toit (3) (1 point-of-origin), Munier Hartzenberg (2) (1 point-of-origin), Penalty Try (2), Reinhardt Fortuin, Luciano Elias. Conversions: Reinhardt Fortuin (2).
FNB CUT: Tries: Hardus Nel, Matthew Sekele, Rassie Breedt (point-of-origin), Jan Kotze. Conversions: Charles Williams (2).
Teams:
FNB Maties: 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 HJ Luus, 3 Leon Lyons, 4 Zirk Jansen, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon (captain), 6 Gift Dlamini, 7 Driaan Bester, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 9 Remu Malan, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Anton du Toit, 12 Waqar Solaan, 13 David Brits, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 15 Adriaan van der Bank. Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Mitchel Carstens, 21 Luciano Elias, 22 Cornel Smit 23 Mike Mavovana.
FNB CUT: 1 Quintin Vorster, 2 Janus Venter, 3 Tebogo Masemola, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 5 Jacques Ackerman, 6 Johannes Terblanche, 7 Luvuyo Ndevu, 8 Hardus Nel, 9 Xavier Swartbooi, 10 Charles Williams, 11 PJ Krugel, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout (captain), 13 Neil Stannard, 14 Christiaan Nel, 15 Cohen Jasper. Replacements: 16 Wandré Nortjé, 17 Edward Davids, 18 Katleho Morapane, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Jan Kotze, 21 Jaco Wilkinson, 22 Rassie Breedt, 23 Karabo Maqeba.