New try rule sees Wits draw with Maties: Varsity Cup Round 5 match reviews

 

Fixture: FNB Wits 30-30 FNB Maties

FNB Wits score late equaliser to end FNB Maties’ winning streak

FNB Player of the Match: Chippie Oelofse (FNB Maties)

Scores
FNB Wits: 30
Tries: Tyrone Green (2), AJ Van Blerk, Taine Chabant
Cons: Chris Humphries (3)

FNB Maties: 30
Tries: Edwill Van Der Merwe, Eldoe Schoeman, Johan Momsen
Cons: Chris Smith
Pens: Chris Smith (2)

Teams
FNB Wits starting XV: 15. Tyrone Green, 14. Kwanele Ngema, 13. Yanga Hlalu, 12. AJ Van Blerk, 11. Lwazi Monakali, 10. Christian Humphries, 9. Ruan Cloete, 8. Travis Gordon, 7. Jethro De Lange, 6. Constant Beckerling, 5. Pascal Snyman, 4. Conor Terah Brockschmidt, 3. Cornelius Greef, 2. Cecil John Conradie, 1. Ameer Williams
Substitutes: 16. Justin Brandon, 17. Craig Hume, 18. Sipho Siboza, 19. Jethro De Lange, 20. Jared Fuller, 21. Taine Chabant, 22. David Cary, 23. Luyolo Qinela

FNB Maties Starting XV: 15. Reinhardt Fortuin, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. Elden Schoeman, 12. Chris Smit, 11. Eldwill Van Der Merwe, 10. Chris Smit, 9. Remu Malan, 8. Janco Venter, 7. Marno Redelinghuys, 6. Chris Massyn, 5. Johan Momsen, 4. Brandon Valentyn, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Wilmar Arnoldi, 1. Chippie Oelofse
Substitutes: 16. HJ Luus, 17. Ricky Mwagbara, 18. Piet-Louw Strauss, 19. Mitchell Carstens, 20. Stefan Streicher, 21. Logan Boonzaaier, 22. Herman Van Dyk, 23. Munier Hartzenburg

Match report:
Monday evening saw FNB Varsity Cup action return to the Wits Rugby Stadium. The game was an incredible one between hosts FNB Wits and log leaders FNB Maties, as the two played out to a thrilling 30-30 draw after FNB Wits scored a converted seven-point try on the hooter.

The game got underway with the visitors FNB Maties, showing great intent at the start of the game, putting the hosts on the back foot from the onset. Their efforts were rewarded in as early as just after the seventh minute mark, when FNB Maties winger Edwill van der Merwe crossed over in the corner for an unconverted try. The visitors continued to put the Witsies under pressure and they managed to run in a further two tries to take the score to 17-0.

FNB Wits did, however, slowly get into the game and they garbbed their first try through fullback Tyron Green, who managed to pick up a pass after some great hands from the FNB Wits backs to dot down in the corner in fine style. The Witsies were still not done for the half, when they dashed over for a seven-pointer shortly courtesy of inside centre AJ Van Blerk, with flyhalf Chris Humphries this time making no mistake with the conversion, to take the score to 14-17 to FNB Maties at the break.

The second half saw more of a contest from both teams, with the home side looking for a way to get one over the log leaders. It was however not to be, as FNB Maties struck first once more after the half’s strategy break to extend their lead to 24-14. The men from Stellenbosch were then awarded and converted a penalty just in the FNB Wits half, after the referee spotted some dangerous play from the Witsies. This extended their lead to 27-14 with about 15 minutes left on the clock.

The hosts then seemed to come alive and ploughed away at the FNB Maties defence, until FNB Wits substitute Taine Chabant sliced through to score a converted try and bring FNB Wits within 6 points of FNB Maties. The last 10 minutes then saw the teams then fight to secure the win but it was the visitors that got the points when they received another penalty about 40m out, which Chris Smith slotted to bring the score to 21-30 with five minutes to play.

It was in interesting last few moments with FNB Wits showing great fire and passion, like they have all season. They were eventually rewarded for their hard work, when they scored a seven-point try, which was converted as they drew level with the FNB Maties to share the spoils and become the first side to prevent an FNB Maties victory in 2018.

Fixture: FNB Madibaz 5-37 FNB NWU

FNB NWU too much to handle for FNB Madibaz

FNB Player That Rocks: Henry Brown (FNB Madibaz)

Scores
FNB Madibaz: 5
Tries: Siphumelele Msutwana

FNB NWU: 37
Tries: Dean Gordon, Louis van der Westhuizen, Dean Stokes, Chriswill September, Tiaan Bezuidenhout
Con: DP de Lange (4)

Teams
FNB Madibaz starting XV: 15 Jordan Koekemoer, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Riaan Esterhuizen (C) , 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Simon Bolze, 9 Sibusiso Ngcokovane, 8 Justin Hollis, 7 Henry Brandon Brown, 6 Jason Reinecke, 5 Ruben Le Roux, 4 Luyolo Dapula, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Jedywn Harty, 1 Nicolas Roebeck
Subs: Jean-Pierre Jamieson, Thembelihle Yase, Johan Van Wyk, Ruben Bunganga Magwentsu, André Lategan, Dundre Maritz, Henrique Olivier, Stephan Zeelie

FNB NWU starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 AK Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 DP De Lange, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout, 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Wandile Mazibuko, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Theo Ferreira, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Brendon Strydom
Subs: Marius Stander, Morne Strydom, Matimu Manganyi, Jaco Swanepoel, Senzo Mkhize, Nkosana Mathaba, Henko Marais, Jimmy Mpailane

Match report:
In a game full of mistakes, FNB NWU made easy pickings against FNB Madibaz to win 37-5 in Port Elizabeth on Monday night.

The first half was dominated by FNB NWU, the side with most of the possession leading 14-5 at the end of the half with two tries from Louis van der Westhuzien and Dean Gordon, who was making a meal of the defence of FNB Madibaz. FNB Madibaz, looking for their first win of this year’s Varsity Cup, with plenty of handling errors and giving the ball away at crucial stages allowing FNB NWU to dominate and attack the first half.

The home side did manage to pull a try back through their outside centre, Siphumelele Msutwana, although the conversion was missed.

The second half was much of the same, FNB NWU dominating against a mistake riddled FNB Madibaz. Neither side taking advantage of their Power Plays, but it wasn’t needed for the away team to ease their way to victory. The second half including tries from Dean Stokes, Tiaan Bezuidenhout and Chriswill September.

The winless FNB Madibaz looked soppy on attack and failed to take advantage of any attacks. Henry Brandon Brown taking the FNB Player that Rocks award once again this week for FNB Madibaz for his effort in the forwards.

FNB Madibaz need to go back to the books and work hard on their basics to achieve their first win in the upcoming rounds of this year’s Varsity Cup.

Fixture: FNB Shimlas 12-49 FNB UJ

FNB UJ slam FNB Shimlas in their own backyard

FNB Player that Rocks: Ronald Brown (FNB UJ)

Scores
FNB Shimlas: 12
Tries: Halom Athi, Francois Agenbag
Cons: Nicolaas Naude
Pens: Nicolaas Naude

FNB UJ: 49
Tries: Bradley Thain (2), Odwa Nkunjana, Adriaan Bester, Ronald Brown
Cons: Kobus Engelbrecht (4)
Pens: Kobus Engelbrecht (2)
Yellow cards: Taitendaishe Mujawo
Red cards: Seun Maduna

Teams
FNB Shimlas starting XV: 15 Christiaan Schutte, 14 Athi Halom , 13 Carel Coetzee,12 Ayabonga Oliphant , 11 Francois Agenbach, 10 Nicholaas Naude , 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Benjamin Jansen Van Vuuren, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi ,6 Janco Cloete , 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Sibabalo Qoma ,3 Janu Botha, 2 Hanno Snyman , 1 Louis Martin Cloete
Substitutes: 16 JC Jansen V Vuuren, 17 Wentzel Vorster ,18 Johan Kotze , 19 Raymond Woest, 20 Rholane Ncubuka, 21 Zinedine Booysen, 22 Olehile Losaba ,23 Frank Van Heerden

FNB UJ starting XV: 1 Sibusiso Lali , 2 Johannes Snyman, 3 Nico du Plessis , 4 Kevin du Randt , 5 Estian Enslin , 6 James Venter , 7 Adriaan Bester, 8 Wian Conradie , 9 Bradley Thian , 10 Kobus Engelbrecht , 11 Odwa Nkunjana , 12 Seun Maduna , 13 Jan Louis La Grange , 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo , 15. Ronald Brown
Substitutions: 16 Baard le Roux , 17 Dillion Baard , 18 Siyabonga Luwaca , 19 Malembe Mpofu , 20 Johan Esterhuizen 21 jean Luc Cilliers , 22 Austin Davids , 23 Cohen Kiewit

Match report:
FNB UJ beat FNB Shimlas convincingly, 49-12, in the fifth round of the Varsity Cup in Bloemfontein at Xerox Shimla Park on Monday night.

FNB UJ started off with physical rugby showing their intention to use the forwards to carry the ball and to draw in the backline players to expose the defence of the FNB Shimlas. FNB UJ dominated territory and ball possession in the first five minutes but could not round off play due to handling errors. Flyhalf Kobus Engelbrecht opened the scoreboard for FNB UJ in the 11th minute of the game with a penalty kick to put them in the lead with three points.

FNB Shimlas’ flyhalf had an opportunity in the 14th minute to level the score with a penalty kick from the 10-metre mark but was unsuccessful. FNB UJ answered with attacking play and scored the first try of the match when scrumhalf Bradley Thain went over for a seven-pointer, converted by Kobus Engelbrecht, stretching the score to 12-0 after sixteen minutes of play.

Engelbrecht made sure that FNB UJ kept their momentum when he converted a penalty in the 26th minute to stretch the score to 15-0. Finally, FNB Shimlas crossed the line in the 31st minute after winger Athi Halom went over in the corner following the FNB Shimlas swinging the ball wide from a third-phase ball. Naude was unsuccessful with the conversion taking the score to 15-5 for FNB UJ.

In the 35th minute flanker Janco Cloete was seriously injured after foul play from FNB UJ debutant Seun Maduna, who was send off with a red card leaving FNB UJ with only 14 players on the field. On the stroke of half time FNB UJ scored again; a second try for scrumhalf Bradley Thain, as he went over and Engelbrecht converted the try to stretch the score to 24-5 just after half time.
FNB Shimlas started the second half with more intensity and structure to no avail. FNB Shimlas’ flyhalf Nicolaas Naude could not control the ball on attack and a fumble handed FNB UJ winger Odwa Nkunjana an intercept and he scored a seven-pointer with Engelbrecht converting the try to stretch the lead to 33-5 just four minutes into the second half.

FNB UJ were not done just yet. After good attacking play from fullback Ronald Brown flanker Adriaan Bester went over in the 49th minute for a seven-pointer, and FNB UJ’s fourth try, converted by Engelbrecht, stretching the lead to 42-5.

FNB UJ received their second card, when winger Tatendaishe Mujawe was sent off with a in the 55th minute for foul play. FNB UJ still managed to cross the line for their fifth try when Ronald Brown scored yet another a seven-pointer in the corner after several phases. FNB Shimlas managed a consolation try and scored a five-pointer through winger Francois Agenbag. It was converted by Naude taking the score to 49-12 which is how it ended.
The six changes to FNB Shimlas clearly had a negative impact, and they could not retain possession and kicked far too much ball possession away.

Fixture: UCT 23-13 FNB UP-TUKS (match report to come)