In an end-to-end FNB Varsity Shield clash at the IIE’s Varsity College Durban North, it was FNB UWC who edged the FNB Varsity College Comets 40-36 in an entertaining affair on Friday evening.
It was the perfect start for the Comets who scored through debutant Edward Siguake in the second minute of the match.
A deft pass from Mambo Mkhize put Siguake through in his first outing for the Comets.
UWC hit back immediately with a try of their own when captain Romauld Nsombamanya barged over from a penalty close to the line.
After Aaron Swart added the conversion it was tied up at 7-7 in the first five minutes of the clash.
The Comets then took advantage of a turn-over in the middle of the field and Sigauke was nearly over for his second but was tackled into touch.
The Comets won a penalty and from it Okuhlekodwa Meyiwa barged over from close range to give VC a 12-7 lead after eight minutes.
UWC had their second try when wing Leachim Adams scored in the corner to level the scores after 12 minutes.
It was a helter-skelter first 20 minutes and at the first Suzuki Strategy break the score was level at 12-12.
Some good pressure from VC led to their third try from Jacques Marais off a strong line-out drive in the 24th minute of the first half.
Marx added his second conversion to give the Comets a 19-12 lead.
As soon as the Comets scored, UWC hit back with a scything run from flyhalf Swartz to score under the posts and convert his own try to level things up again.
After 28 minutes Anwill Prins was given a yellow card for the hosts after a cynical infringement close to his own line.
Just before the half an hour mark UWC No 8 Leighton Damon charged over off a five metre scrum to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.
The conversion from Swartz was successful and UWC were leading 26-19.
A few minutes before the break Meyiwa crashed over for his second try to narrow the gap to two points.
THREE YELLOW CARD FOR COMETS
Right off the kick-off UWC scored their fifth try when J’que Huckins scored in the lefthand corner. Swartz converted from a tight angle to give UWC a 33-24 lead.
That’s how things would end in the first half. A half that included nine tries and 57 points.
The Comets lost Enzo van Niekerk to a yellow card early in the second half for a late tackle.
The first ten minutes of the second half were far more subdued with the Comets forced to defend for a large portion of that time.
The Comets scored the first try of the half in the 52nd minute when Mambo Mkhize put his centre partner Anwill Prins through to score untouched.
Chris Els added the conversion to narrow the gap to 33-31.
That’s how things stood at the second Suzuki Strat break after 61 minutes.
The Comets collected their third yellow card when captain AB Mthembu was carded for continuous infringements after 62 minutes.
After some sustained pressure UWC scored their first try of the half when scrum half Conwill Conradie went over. The conversion was successful to give UWC a 40-31 lead.
With ten minutes to go and 14 players on the field, Chris Els sniped off the side of a maul to score a crucial try that brought the Comets back to within four points of UWC.
Ultimately the visiting side held on to that slender lead to claim a 40-36 victory.
The Comets are on the road next week when they face newcomers FNB SPU in Kimberley.
FNB VC Comets 36
Tries: Edward Sigauke, Okuhlekodwa Meyiwa x2, Jacques Marais, Anwill Prins, Chris Els Conversions: Drico Marx x2, Chris Els
FNB UWC 40
Tries: Romauld Nsombamanya, Leachim Adams, Aaron Swartz, Leighton Damon, J’que Huckins, Conwill Conradie Conversions: Aaron Swartz x5