FNB UP-Tuks beat the Ikey Tigers 34-27 when these sides last met in the 2021 FNB Varsity Cup final. On Monday, they managed to overcome the wet and windy conditions to claim yet another win against their old foes.
The visitors scored three tries from the set piece in the first half. The hosts showed greater ambition from deep and may have scored more points during this period if not for a series of handling errors.
Both teams lost players to yellow cards as half-time approached. Tuks flank Orateng Koikanyang was suspended for cynical play on his own tryline, while Ikeys fullback Duran Koevort was sent to the bin for an illegal tackle.
The hosts thrived in the 14-on-14 contest. Ikeys did well to keep them relatively honest in this period. The half ended with the scores level at 21-21.
Playing with a strong win at their backs in the second half, Tuks proceeded to take control. The hosts navigated their way deep into opposition territory and then employed a driving maul of their own. Schoonees crashed over for his second try of the evening.
Just as the game was slipping away from the visitors, Koevort chased down a David Hayes kick and scored under the uprights.
The point-of-origin try, as well as the successful conversion by Koervort, allowed the Ikey Tigers to claw their way back to within a point of their opponents. This kick took Koevort’s personal tally for the evening to 21 points.
As the rain hammered down, both teams struggled to control the ball Tuks won a crucial maul penalty, however, and ensured that they spent the final stages on the Ikeys’ tryline.
After a sustained period of attack, scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde breached the defence. Stefan Coetzee’s ensuing conversion stretched Tuks’ lead to eight points, and ultimately denied the visitors a losing bonus point.
SHIMLAS FIGHT BACK AGAINST IXIAS
In the Bloemfontein derby, FNB UFS Shimlas fought back from a 10-0 deficit to beat the FNB CUT Ixias 48-27 and consolidate their position at the top of the log.
André Tredoux’s charges have scored 154 points over the course of three games. Ultimately, they have racked up a maximum of 15 log points, and are full value for their position at the top of the standings.
That said, they were made to work for the result against a spirited CUT side in a fierce Bloemfontein derby. Braam van Straaten’s side applied the pressure during the early stages, and powered their way into a 10-0 lead after 16 minutes.
Shimlas endeavoured to play the game at a high tempo, though. They continued to run at the hosts’ defence, and continued to win penalties.
Instead of kicking for goal, they tapped quickly and attempted to catch CUT unawares. After spurning several chances, they breached the line via captain Thabang Mahlasi.
That score proved the catalyst for the visitors. Shimlas began to hold their passes, and added two more tries before the break.
CUT conceded 11 penalties in the first half alone. They failed to address their discipline issues in the second half.
Another series of infringements culminated in a whopping three yellow cards for the hosts between the 48th and 55th minute. Jan Kotzé, Sisipho Nofuya and Kevin Strydom ended up sitting alongside one another in the sin bin.
Shimlas proceeded to put the 12-man CUT team to the sword. They scored 17 points while the hosts were short-staffed.
Reserve hooker Wihan Marais was shown a red card for a dangerous cleanout in the 68th minute, while scrumhalf Jandré Nel received a yellow for a deliberate knockdown soon after.
By then, however, Shimlas had the result and the bonus point in the bag.
UWC GET OFF THE MARK
In Cape Town, FNB UWC claimed their first win of the season with a convincing 60-26 victory against the FNB Madibaz, who suffered a third straight defeat.
Peter Williams set the tone for the hosts when a multi-phase attack finished with the winger diving under the posts for a point-of-origin try. UWC scored another three tries to lead 30-7 and while the Madibaz crossed for their second try on the stroke of half-time, it was one-way traffic in the second half as the hosts scored another four tries.
UJ OVERCOME EAGLES AS MATIES CRUSH WITS
In Johannesburg, FNB UJ came back from 14-0 down to beat the FNB NWU Eagles 35-14 in a match that was delayed for 25 minutes because of heavy rain and a water-logged field.
The Eagles scored two first-half tries, including a penalty try, only to concede a penalty try themselves on the stroke of half-time that allowed the Orange Army to get back into the game. UJ then dominated the second half, scoring three tries.
FNB Maties scored five tries in their 37-10 win against FNB Wits at the Danie Craven Stadium. The hosts led 18-5 at half-time.
VARSITY CUP ROUND 3 RESULTS AND SCORES:
FNB CUT Ixias 27 (10) – Tries: Luvuyo Ndevu, penalty try, Teboho Rampai. Conversions: Zinedine Booysen (2). Penalties: Booysen (2).
FNB UFS Shimlas 48 (19) – Tries: Thabang Mahlasi, William Moffat, Janco van Heyningen, Lourens Oosthuizen, Asande Kunene (1x7, 1x5), Lohan Potgieter, Nqobani Dlamini. Conversions: Litha Nkula (3).
FNB Player That Rocks: William Moffat (FNB UFS Shimlas)
FNB UP-Tuks 38 (21) – Tries: Dian Schoonees (1x7, 1x5), Kabelo Mokoena, Zander Reynders, Bernard van der Linde. Conversions: Stefan Coetzee (4). Penalty: Coetzee.
FNB UCT Ikeys 30 (21) – Tries: Duran Koevort (1x5, 1x7), Alex Castle (2).
Conversions: Koevort (4).FNB Player That Rocks: Lincoln Daniels (FNB UP-Tuks)FNB UWC 60 (30) – Tries: Peter Williams (1x7), Marsheleno Valensky, Reece Bocks (1x5, 1x7), Godfrey Muzanarwo, Tasriq Mynhardt, Aydon Topley, Will Vraagom. Conversions: Lyle Hendricks (7).
FNB Madibaz 26 (14) – Tries: Ruan Jonker, Khakalethu Bophi (2), Arnouw Nel. Conversions: Chadwyn November (3).
FNB Player That Rocks: Peter Williams (FNB UWC).
FNB FNB UJ 35 (7) – Tries: Penalty try, Philip Apea-Adu, Kayden Kiewit, Rowan Malgas (1x7). Conversions: Jonathan Viljoen (3). Penalty: Viljoen.
FNB NWU Eagles 14 (14) – Tries: Vernon Paulo, penalty try. Conversion: Nivan Petersen.
FNB Player That Rocks: Indiphile Tyeda (FNB UJ)
FNB Maties 37 (18) – Tries: Mike Mavovana, Sean Swart, Marcqiewn Titus, Chris Rossouw, McKyle Volmoer. Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (3). Penalties: Fleurs (2).
FNB Wits 10 (5) – Tries: Prince Mulea, Thando Ngcelwane.
FNB Player That Rocks: Vernon Matongo (FNB Maties)
FNB VARSITY CUP ROUND 4 FIXTURES (7 MARCH):
FNB Madibaz vs FNB CUT Ixias (17:00, Madibaz Stadium, SuperSport channel 211)
FNB NWU Eagles vs UP-Tuks (19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, SuperSport channel 211)
FNB Maties vs FNB UJ (19:00, Danie Craven Stadium, SuperSport Schools App)
FNB Wits vs FNB UFS Shimlas (19:00, Wits Rugby Stadium, SuperSport Schools App)
FNB UCT Ikeys vs FNB UWC (19:00, UCT Rugby Fields, SuperSport Schools App)