Pukke sneak into final
23 Mar 2009
Pukke secured a place in the Varsity Cup final with a dramatic 19-17 win over UCT.
The students from Potchefstroom put the agony of last year’s last minute semi-final defeat to the same side behind them with a well deserved come-from-behind win in tough conditions in Cape Town.
UCT were the better side in the first half with the wind at their backs. Without seeing too much ball, the Ikeys set up camp in Pukke’s half and finally made the breakthrough in the 25th minute through Marcello Sampson after some good work by centre Tiger Bax created the initial overlap.
The visitors failed to make a single visit to UCT’s 22 metre area in the entire first half and the pressure began to toll. With just eight minutes left in the first stanza UCT got on the scoreboard again through Michael Passaportis and the hosts went into the break 12 points to the good.
But the big question was how would UCT be able to deal with the howling wind in the second half and three minutes in Pukke got on the board through a Cecil Dumond penalty.
UCT, like Pukke in the first half, were under immense pressure as they struggled against the wind to get out of their own half, but after a good period of possession and some good interplay between their backs and forwards led to UCT’s third try.
The message from coach John Dobson to his players would have been to hang onto the ball for as long as possible. That was far easier said than done as some poor discipline gave Dumond a chance to slot his third penalty of the evening which he did with ease to narrow the gap.
When winger Lolo Waka scored his side’s only try of the game and Dumond nailed the conversion it was down to a one point game with just over 15 minutes left to play.
The hosts dug deep and defended with everything they had left, but some ill discipline cost them as they gave away a penalty right out in front which Dumond popped over to secure the win.
By Andrew Worling
13 Comments
23 Mar 2009, 18:47 pm
Go PUKKE!!!
(Dragons…)
23 Mar 2009, 18:50 pm
Go Pukke
23 Mar 2009, 18:53 pm
I like this victory – something to be said for traditional forward power.
The new rules are resulting in some of the Super14 matches resembling a game of touch rugby. At least with PUKKE it was the team that with the power up front that truimphed.
And the best bit is they don’t have all the razz matazz of Bobby Skinstad, Jake White etc. as assistant coaches like UCT does.
All in all I reckon they will fancy their chances come next week against Tuks or Maties.
23 Mar 2009, 19:36 pm
Ikeys needed more points when playing with the wind in first half. The final penalty was dubious to say the least, i saw it as a good steal at the ground and on second-viewing on tv too. Bitterly disappointed
23 Mar 2009, 20:28 pm
Go the Pukke !! Ikeys had every man and his dog coaching them, and was once again the red hot favourites ! Yet once again they lose in a play off. They should never have lost the last play off game last week. Pukke got confidence, and it paid off….
From one Kovsie / Shimla to all the Pukke – wel gedaan manne, ons is baie bly vir julle. Hoop julle vat hom !!
23 Mar 2009, 21:30 pm
Students get scholarships to play rugby at Pukke, not to mention their rugby academy. Rugby at UCT is purely through the love of the game and gees
23 Mar 2009, 23:38 pm
Well done Pukke, you had the most points on the board at the final whistle. Bugger!! ……..Whats with all this other bullshite, like “they got this and that coach”, “they got more of this we got less of that therefore we deserved it more”?? Petty jelousy if you ask me…….grow the *** up!
24 Mar 2009, 07:46 am
#7 whatever: The point is exactly that idiot. The Ikeys despite having Dobson, Skinstad, Fleck, Jake White and whomever else chooses to – coaching them – still cant get it up.
The point is exactly that – the hungrier team won it on the day. Despite all the media hype about their coaches. The better rugby team won it.
24 Mar 2009, 07:47 am
#6 liefling: Welcome to the professional era. In case you hadnt noticed it started in 1995.
As Naas would say – Check die scoreboard.
24 Mar 2009, 08:14 am
A pity. I would’ve wanted the Ikeys to get some revenge after last year’s final.
24 Mar 2009, 08:29 am
Awesome, awesome and even more awesome, and that from an ex UCT supporter, long may it continue.
24 Mar 2009, 09:24 am
Big deal, my opinion UCT were the beter team right through the competition. Three tries to one says it all.
27 Mar 2009, 10:27 am
“And the best bit is they don’t have all the razz matazz of Bobby Skinstad, Jake White etc. as assistant coaches like UCT does.”
Pukke have a heavily funded rugby academy and have major spend to attract players. Compare their budget of R5mil (thumb suck) to Ikeys’ where you can take away the last digit and you know where the real heart and gees lies.
Well done to Pukke for taking it this time around, but three tries to one says a lot.
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