Photo Credit - Varsity Sport
FNB TUT ended their best-ever FNB Varsity Shield campaign on a high as they ran in nine tries to beat this year’s finalists FNB WSU (64-08).
Having already secured a spot in Sunday's final against FNB CPUT, the All Blacks opted to rest 13 first-choice players, which made it somewhat easier for FNB TUT.
Take nothing away from the Vikings – who finished third on the log with five wins from six matches – but an FNB WSU team operating at full capacity is no easy affair as the understrength Tekkies found out in the penultimate round.
Thus the men from Pretoria were able to assert themselves from the get-go and by the time the first strategy break was blown, they had racked up a commanding lead with tries to prop Goabaona Mokone (after just 34 seconds) and flyhalf Lusanda Xakwana, with Xakwana adding two conversions and a penalty.
FNB WSU pulled back a try courtesy of outside centre Mbulelo Totose to add to fullback Sakhele Ngeno's earlier penalty goal.
This did little to halt FNB TUT's onslaught as hooker Laro Delport crossed the chalk, before wing Wanga Shumi and outside centre Franco Stassen touched down for tries four and five respectively. Xakwana converted both to increase their lead to 38-8 at the break.
The second half saw a continuation of the first’s status quo as Stassen bagged his brace before wing Vuyani Vanqa and replacement loose forward Nyakallo Masitha forced their way over the whitewash.
FNB TUT certainly played until the final whistle as Delport secured his brace in stoppage time and Xakwana added the extras to finish with a 24-point haul.
FNB Player That Rocks: Lusanda Xakwana (FNB TUT Vikings)
FNB TUT Vikings – Tries: Goabaona Mokone, Lusanda Xakwana, Laro Delport (2), Wanga Shumi, Franco Stassen (2), Vuyani Vanqa, Nyakallo Masitha. Conversions: Lusanda Xakwana (8). Penalty: Lusannda Xakwana.
FNB WSU All Blacks – Try: Mbulelo Totose. Penalty: Sakhele Ngeno.