The NWU Eagles hosted Wits at Potchefstroom in very wet and muddy conditions. The Eagles who soon took control of the match - and the conditions - comfortably beat Wits 31-3.
The match started with Wits on the attack however the Eagles soon settled and adapted better to the wet conditions with their strong forward pack, which dominated Wits in the scrums.
Wits took the early lead on the scoreboard with a penalty kick however the Eagles soon hit back with a typical prop try scored by their captain with a strong leg drive from a ruck on the Wits try line.
The Eagles opted to play the ball wide despite the wet conditions and found gaps in the Wits defence soon scoring another converted try to take the score to 14-3.
Wits struggled to play out of the half due to the wet conditions and the strong Eagles defence. The Eagles who were now well in control of the match, scored their third try just before halftime when the centre sliced through the Wits backline to score. The halftime score was 19-3 in favour of the Eagles.
The pace of the match slowed somewhat in the second half with the Eagles still well in control of the match not allowing Wits to get any momentum going.
The Eagles scored their fourth try when they beat the Wits defence out wide to take their score to 26-3 in the 54th minute.
A yellow card given to Wits in the 61st minute did not help their plight. They managed to get close to the Eagles’ try line right at the end of the match but couldn’t score. The Eagles put the proverbial cherry on their cake with a great try scored in the 80th minute to comfortably beat Wits 31-3.
FNB NWU Eagles 31 (19) – Tries: Sampie Swiegers (2), Theunis Pretorius, Tino Swanepoel (1x7), Pienaar van Niekerk. Conversions: Martin Venter (2).
FNB Wits 3 (3) – Penalty: Chris Humphries.
FNB Player That Rocks: Sampie Swiegers (FNB NWU Eagles)
FNB NWU Eagles – 15 Heinrich Botha, 14 Pienaar van Niekerk, 13 Theunis Pretorius, 12 Isrome Phatudi, 11 Tino Swanepoel, 10 Martin Venter, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 André Fouché, 7 Kagiso Woodbridge, 6 Chris Vermaak, 5 Ruben Dreyer, 4 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Ruben du Plessis. Replacements: 16 Chyle van Zyl, 17 Jason Jansen, 18 Xongani Ngobeni, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 Gustav Erlank, 21 Riaan Genis, 22 Nivan Petersen, 23 Keenan Twigg.
FNB Wits – 15 Setshaba Mokoena, 14 Wian de Lange, 13 Siya Xulu, 12 Tiaan Schutte, 11 Thando Ngcelwane, 10 Chris Humphries, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Lindo Ncusane, 6 Alex Skudder, 5 Junior White, 4 Kyle van Eyssen, 3 Ebot Buma (c), 2 Dameon Venter, 1 Jason Cloete. Replacements: 16 Dagan Meuwese, 17 Prince Mulea, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe, 19 Anton Gerber, 20 Ziyanda Msipha, 21 Wernich Aucamp, 22 Keagan Lailvaux, 23 Gerswin Mouton.
