The FNB Varsity College Comets made it three wins from three when they won the KZN FNB Varsity Shield derby against FNB UKZN 28-6 at the UKZN Howard College Campus on Friday afternoon.
Two tries in each half of the match was enough for the Comets to retain their unblemished record in the competition and head to Pretoria next week with an eye on the top of the log position.
It was the home side that got the first points early in the match as Siso France kicked a penalty to give the Impi a 3-0 lead.
Varsity College then got themselves some sustained possession which helped them gain some field position despite playing into a stiff breeze in the first half.
A few strong drives from the Comets eventually resulted in hooker Jacques Marais bashing over for his first try of the game.
Frederick Marx added the extra two points to give Varsity College a 7-3 lead after 17 minutes.
It was UKZN who got the next points when France kicked his second penalty of the day to narrow the gap to just a point after 25 minutes as both sides gave away a number of penalties.
BONUS-POINT TRY
A strong charge from Marais again from a maul saw him go over the line, however he lost the ball over the line.
The teams exchanged yellow cards as Varsity College lost flank Enzo van Niekerk for a dangerous tackle eight minutes from half time.
Varsity College then extended their lead with a second try that came from a UKZN mistake as the Comets charged up the pitch and Chris Horak nearly went over in the corner.
AB Mthembu then found prop Sonwabo Maseko a few metres from the line as he bundled over for the second try. Marx converted to give Varsity College a 14-6 lead.
That's how things would stay until half time with Varsity College playing with the wind in the second period.
The first points in the second half came courtesy of an intercept try from Varsity College fullback Chris Horak which extended the Comets' lead to 21-6 after Marx added the conversion.
It was Varsity College who had the final say when Dallyn Beukes bundled over for the important bonus-point try. Marx made it 28-6 with just three minutes left in the match.
FULL TIME and @Varsity_College are the kings of Durban as they beat rivals @UKZN_Rugby in convincing fashion. The Comets pick up the bonus point and are now three from three.
— Varsity Shield (@varsityshield) March 8, 2024
FNB UKZN 6 - 28 FNB VC#RugbyThatRocks proudly brought to you by FNB, Steers and Suzuki pic.twitter.com/MAXdGkqPtH
The IIE's Varsity College head to Pretoria to take on FNB UP-Tuks in their next FNB Varsity Shield fixture next Friday, 15 March.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
FNB Varsity College 28
Tries: Jacques Marais, Sonwabo Maseko, Chris Horak, Dallyn Beukes
Conversions: Frederick Marx x4
FNB UKZN 6
Penalties: Siso France x2