Varsity Cup round 7: Match reports

FNB Varsity Cup Round 7- Official match reports following round 7 of the FNB Varsity Cup, courtesy of varsitycup.co.za

 

FNB UJ claim bragging rights at FNB Wits

Kick-off: 16h45

On a festive Monday evening at Wits University, the University of Johannesburg claimed top honours in the Johannesburg Varsity Cup derby, beating FNB Wits 29-17 at the Wits Rugby Stadium.

 

The encounter was bound to be an exciting one, but for a change with FNB Wits going into the game as favourites and sitting in second spot on the log. FNB UJ were not too far behind in fourth position.

 

The game got underway with the visitors FNB UJ showing that form going into a local derby indeed goes out of the window. They got out of the starting blocks really quickly, showing intent really early to ask FNB Wits questions early on. The FNB UJ efforts were rewarded very quickly, when they managed to cross over for two quick tries to take a 14-0 lead thanks to winger Odwa Nkunjana and flanker James Venter.

 

Kobus Engelbrecht also added the extra two points on both occasions with the boot. The hosts then finally got into the game, with a try of their own, when FNB Wits hooker CJ Conradie picked the ball up from close range to bash his way over for an unconverted try and take the score to 14-5. The rest of the half saw the two sides going at each other, with both eventually adding a try each, with FNB UJ converting theirs, whilst the Witsies failed with theirs and the two sides went into the interval with score at 21-10 in favour of FNB UJ.

 

The second half saw the home side get an early edge over their crosstown rivals, when they scored a converted try thank to Conor Brockschmidt off a driving maul, that Chris Humphries managed to convert and take the score to 21-17 to FNB UJ. The boys in blue, continued to try surge forward and gain a lead but simple mistakes were letting them down.

FNB UJ on the other side kept their discipline and added a try thanks to Jan-Louis La Grange, who caught the ball in the FNB Wits 22-metre area and run straight through due to FNB UJ having an overlap. The last moments of the game then saw the Orange Army of FNB UJ keep a tight defence and add three points from a penalty. That was enough for FNB UJ to give the Witsies their first home defeat of the season and earn themselves the bragging rights in Johannesburg.

 

FNB Player That Rocks: Odwa Nkunjana (FNB UJ)

 

FNB Wits: 17

Tries: CJ Conradie, Conor Brockschmidt

Cons: Chris Humphries

 

FNB UJ: 29

Tries: Odwa Nkunjana (2), James Venter, Jan-Louis La Grange
Cons: Kobus Engelbrecht (3)

Pens: Kobus Engelbrecht

 

Teams
FNB Wits starting XV: 15. David Cary, 14. Kwanele Ngema, 13. AJ Van Blerk, 12. Taine Chabant, 11. Bin Kasende Kapepula, 10. Chris Humphries, 9. Ruan Cloete, 8. Ayabulela Mdudi, 7. Jethro De Lange, 6. Constant Beckerling, 5. Pascal Snyman, 4. Conor Brockschmidt, 3. Cornelius Greef, 2. CJ Conradie, Ameer Williams
Substitutes: 16. Justin Brandon, 17. Craig Hume, 18. Sipho Siboza, 19. Ruan MacDonald, 20. Giovan Snyman, 21. Lwazi Monakali, 22. Sicelo Champion, 23. Luyolo Qinela

FNB UJ Starting XV: 15. Ronald Brown, 14. Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13. Jan-Louis La Grange, 12. Austin Davids, 11. Odwa Nkunjana, 10. Kobus Engelbrecht, 9. Bradley Thain, 8. Wian Conradie, 7. Adriaan Bester, 6. James Venter, 5. Estian Enslin, 4. Kevin Du Randt, 3. Nico Du Plessis, 2. Johannes Snyman, 1. Sibusiso Lali
Substitutes: 16. Baard Le Roux, 17. Dillion Bakos, 18. Siyabonga Luwaca, 19. Malembe Mpofu, 20. Johan Esterhuizen, 21. Jeanluc Cilliers, 22. Cyprian Nkomo, 23. Cohen Kiewet

 

FNB Maties secure home semi-final with victory over FNB Madibaz

Kick-off: 18h30

FNB Maties continued their unbeaten run and secured a home semi-final after defeating FNB Madibaz 19-0 in Port Elizabeth.

 

FNB Maties took an early lead through a try from lock Johan Momsen, along with the conversion from Chris Smith.

 

FNB Madibaz managed to gain some control over the game, creating chances for themselves. But two more FNB Maties tries before half time from Logan Boonzaaier and Munier Hartzenberg respectively, was too much for FNB Madibaz to catch up to before play was ended.

 

Eight minutes into the second half, the game was stopped due to pitch invasion. The final score for was FNB Maties 19, FNB Madibaz 0.

 

With FNB Maties winning 19-0 when the game was called off, the men from Stellenbosch take four points for the win, which cements a home semi-final for the Stellenbosch side.

Scores
FNB Madibaz: 0

FNB Maties: 19
Tries: Johan Momsen, Logan Boonzaaier and Munier Hartzenberg
Cons: Chris Smith (2)

 

FNB Madibaz: 15 Jordan Koekemoer, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Riaan Esterhuizen (C) , 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Henrique Olivier, 9 Dundre Maritz, 8 Robert Izaks, 7 Henry Brandon Brown, 6 Jason Reinecke, 5 Ruben Le Roux, 4 Wynand Grassmann, 3 Johan van Wyk, 2 Jean-Pierre Jamieson, 1 Nicolas Roebeck
Subs: 16 Thembekile Boltina, 17 Thembelihle Yase, 18 Dylan Barendse, 19 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 20 Nathan Gogela, 21 Luvo Claassen, 22 Liam Blake-Taylor, 23 Stephan Zeelie

 

FNB Maties: 15 Reinhardt Fortuin, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Michael Hazner, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Edwil vd Merwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Logan Boonzaaier, 8 Daniel Maree, 7 Stephan Streicher, 6 Johan Van Niekerk, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Niel Oelofse
Subs: 16 Craig Corbett, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Mzo Buthelezi, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Joa Swart, 21 Matthew Dahl, 22 Herman van Dyk, 23 Carlisle Nel

 

FNB UP-Tuks claimed their first win

Kick-off: 18h30

 

FNB UP-Tuks won their first game of FNB Varsity Cup after scoring eight tries past FNB CUT to win 54–26 in Bloemfontein.

 

FNB UP-Tuks ran in eight tries to FNB CUT’s four in a game where the men from Pretoria were finally allowed to express themselves with ball in hand. The victory propels FNB UP-Tuks into seventh on the FNB Varsity Cup log. They leapfrog FNB Madibaz and the evening’s opposition FNB CUT and for now, escape the relegation zone and the embarrassment of going from title winners to FNB Varsity Shield contenders.

 

The loss means that FNB CUT are damned to eighth on the table and considering their recent form, probably means they will be contesting not to be relegated to the FNB Varsity Shield.

The men from Bloemfontein did score four tries in the clash though meaning they at least walk away with a consolation bonus point, with means they sit on six points with a three-point buffer between the last-placed FNB Madibaz. The home side scored through Joseph Karabo, Ruan Smit, Ruan Wasserman and Ruben De Haas.

 

The Tshwane locals were treated to a try-fest with Tyler Fisher, Ruan Nortje and FNB UP-Tuks captain Eduan Lubbe all grabbing a brace with Cameron Hufke and Marnus Potgieter getting once each.

 

FNB Player That Rocks: Eduan Lubbe (FNB Tuks)

 

Scorers
FNB CUT: 26
Tries: Joseph Karabo, Ruan Smit, Ruan Wasserman, Ruben De Haas

Conversions: Denver Kleu (2)

 

FNB UP-Tuks: 54
Tries: Tyler Fisher 2, Eduan Lubbe 2, Ruan Nortje 2, Cameron Hufke, Marnus Potgieter
Conversions: Christo Hammen 6

 

Teams
FNB CUT: 15 Dimitrio Tieties 14 Masego Toolo, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Louis Nel, 11 Tiisetso Madonsela, 10 Denver Kleu, 9 Ruben Heymans, 8 Gerhardus Nel, 7 Ruan Smit, 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Brendon Fortuin, 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Stefan van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster
Subs: 16 Johannes Terblanche, 17 Raynar dEsterhuizen, 18 LW Viljoen, 19 Stefan Kruger, 20 Isiah Bila, 21 Dean Jacobs, 22 Ruben De Haas, 23 Joseph Karabo

 

FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Damian Boneparte, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Tyler Fisher, 11 Cameron Hufke, 10 Christo Hamman, 9 Joshua Allderman, 8 Ewart Potgieter, 7 Brian Leitch, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Marius Verwey, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Cornelius Els, 1 Wesley Adonis
Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Orateng Koikanyang, 19 Jacobus Smit, 20 Carlo Engelbrecht, 21 Ruben Beytell, 22 Adrian Seerane, 23 Mashao Mukhari

 

FNB Shimlas obliterated by FNB NWU

Kick-off: 19h00

 

FNB Shimlas proved to be no competition for FNB NWU, who sealed their fifth victory of the season after winning 58-21 at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds.

 

FNB NWU got the game off to a great start, with Dean Gordon scoring a seven-point try within the first two minutes of the game, putting FNB NWU 9-0 ahead.

 

After 15 minutes of play FNB Shimlas managed to get their first points on the board through a try by Albertus de Bod. Lubabalo Dobela managed the conversion, leaving his team trailing by two points going into the first strategy break.

 

Evardi Boshoff was his elusive self, sliding past the FNB Shimlas defence and finding the try line. Hugo missed the conversion but FNB NWU were still 14-7 ahead.

 

Tiaan Bezuidenhout came from the blind side of a scrum to find the try line, scoring for FNB NWU and Hugo had no problem slotting an extra two points.

 

Chriswill September scored a sensational seven-point try and FNB NWU’s bonus-point try right under the poles, making it easier for Hugo to convert. Going into half time, FNB NWU led 30-7. 

Schalk Hugo marshalled play to set up AK Nela’s try right under the poles, putting the score at 37-7 for FNB NWU after 50 minutes of play.

 

FNB Shimlas’ misery continued when Albertus de Bod was sin-binned for foul play and Louis van der Westhuizen added another try to FNB NWU’s tally, but Hugo missed the conversion.

With five minutes left to play, Mafura got a try in the corner after having his first try ruled out by a TMO referral.  Hugo kicked a tight conversion, leaving FNB Shimlas chasing 49-21. 

 

In the dying minutes of the game, Jimmy Mpailane outpaced FNB Shimlas and scored the last try of the game. Hugo managed yet another tight conversion, leaving the final score at 58-21 for FNB NWU. 

 

FNB Player That Rocks: Schalk Hugo (FNB NWU).

 

Scores
FNB NWU: 58
Tries: Dean Gordon (1), Evardi Boshoff (1). Tiaan Bezuidenhout (1), Chriswill September (1), AK Nela (1), Louis van der Westhuizen (1), Tapiwe Mafura (1), Jimmy Mpailane (1).
Cons: Schalk Hugo (6)

FNB Shimlas: 21
Tries: Albertus de Bod (1), Athi Halom (1), Francois Agenbug (1).
Cons: Lubabalo Dobela (2).
Yellow: Albertus de Bod

 

Teams
FNB NWU: 15 Tapiwe Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 AK Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout, 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Matima Maganyi.
Substitutes: 16 Percy Mngadi, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theodore Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandi Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mbatha, 22 Ryno Wepener, 23 Jimmy Mpailane

 

FNB Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Athi Halom, 13 Carel Coetzee, 12 Francois Pretorius, 11 Francois Agenbag, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Albertus de Bod, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi, 6 Benjamin Jansen van Vuuren, 5 Raymond Woest, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Johan Kotze.
Substitutes: 16 JC Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Wentzel Vorster, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Bernadus Erasmus, 20 Janco Cloete, 21 Zinedine Booysen, 22 Ayabonga Opliphant, 23 Christiaan Schutte