'Lift adventure' helps Tuks men win USSA 7s tournament

Most people would fear getting stuck in a lift, but when it happened to the Tuks men's sevens team, it motivated them to win the USSA rugby tournament.

On Sunday, in the final, Tuks were victorious against Stadio, winning 21-14. Adam Mkhuri scored the winning try after a brilliantly timed pass by Tharquin Manuel. Kyle Cyster scored Tuks's first two tries.

Manuel, one of the Tuks players who starred in getting his side back to playing in the Varsity Cup tournament next year, told the story of how the team got stuck.

"It happened on the first day of the tournament. None of us panicked when it happened. To us, being stuck was something we had to face as a team. It definitely helped us to bond even more as a team."

Tuks won their first two games against UWC and Wits. The third game against UJ was a humdinger, which ended in a 12-all draw. The highlight of the match was undoubtedly Van Reenen Kruger's try. He ran nearly 100 metres to score the equalising try.

In the quarterfinals, Tuks beat CPUT and in the semifinals, Madibaz.

Tuks's captain, Ambesa Zenzile, ascribed the team's on-field heroics to not complicating things.

"Our coach, Dabeon Draghoender, encouraged us not to allow ourselves to be pressurised. He wanted us to have fun on the field. He believes that if we play to have fun, the results will take care of itself. He was right.

"My motto for the tournament was: 'In the morning, win the day'. It is something one of my previous coaches taught me. It boils down to the fact that the battle is half-won if we get off to a good start in our first game. Every player took it to heart. It was genuinely cold in the mornings. It might have been why the other teams were not as switched on as we were.

"What helped a lot was playing a tournament two weeks before in Nylstroom. We faced off twice against the Blitzboks B-side. I was amazed at how everyone stepped up. We made the Boks work to beat us. That is when I realised we can win USSAs."

Zenzile scored for Tuks against CPUT and Wits. But it is not his own heroics that excite him. He praised Van Reenen Kruger and Adam Mkhari's efforts.

"Van Reenen Kruger's work ethic is unbelievable. As a team, we've got the saying 'vark hart'. It means never giving up. Van Reenen never did. He would put in the chase when an opposition player got away in a break. The try he scored against UJ was brilliant. Adam Mkhari was our secret weapon. Every time he came on to play, he impacted the game."

Tuks's women won the USSA Shield Trophy.