Shimlas remain unbeaten
FNB UFS-Shimlas remained the only unbeaten side in the FNB Varsity Cup Presented by Steinhoff International following a bonus-point 44-24 victory over defending champions FNB UCT-Ikeys in Bloemfontein.
A handful of first half tries handed the home side a comfortable 34-8 lead at the break, and despite a mini-comeback by Ikeys, the home side held on to all but guarantee themselves their first ever home semifinal.
Shimlas struck as early as the second minute when Gerhard Olivier cantered his way over the line following great continuity and interplay between the forwards. The home side continued to pile on the pressure throughout the opening exchanges and pinned Ikeys in their half of the field.
The visitors managed to get their hands on the ball and made their up the field with their first attack of the match. Lihleli Xoli thought he had levelled matters for the visitors in the 13th minute but was adjudged to have played the ball on the ground on his way to placing the ball over the try line.
That error by Xoli would prove costly as Shimlas skilfully made their way up the field. AJ Coertzen pierced Ikeys’ defence with a devastating run before the ball was quickly recycled and passed to a charging Johan van der Hoogt who busted through a tackle. Two would be soon be three when Daniel Maartens added his name to the scorers list to hand Shimlas a 21-0 lead at the first Strategy Break.
It took Ikeys 26 minutes to get some points on the board when they benefited from an unsuccessful Shimlas line-out throw. The counter-attack was swift and a chip kick was put through that Xoli chased down and ran in unopposed. Guy Schwikkard comfortably added the extra points. Their joy would be short-lived though as Shimlas grabbed a further two tries – and the bonus point – through Olivier and Maartens off the back of two rolling mauls to hand the home side a comfortable 34-8 lead at the halftime break.
There was no stopping the home side after the break as they continued to take the game to UCT but the Ikeys’ “never-say-die” spirit came to the fore as they grabbed the first points of the half in the 56th minute through a Schwikkard try, which Nicholas Holton converted, to reduce the deficit to 18 points.
Olivier capped off a great performance by grabbing a hat-trick on the stroke of the second Strategy Break but Ikeys would back from the mini-break when Holton did all the hard work and put Xoli through to grab a brace. The former would convert the try they narrowed the gap to 39-24 after 65 minutes.
The try sparked the Cape students into life as they went all-out to launch yet another comeback but Shimlas knocked the stuffing out of them thanks to a late Boela Venter try.
FNB Player that Rocks: TBC
Scorers:
For FNB UFS-Shimlas:
Tries: Olivier 3, van der Hoogt, Maartens 2, Venter
Cons: Marais 3
For FNB UCT-Ikeys:
Tries: Xoli 2, Schwikkard
Cons: Schwikkard, Holton 2
Teams:
FNB UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen (captain), 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Niel Claassen, 4 Johan van der Hoogt, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Theunis Neuwoudt.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Boela Venter, 19 De Wet Kruger, 20 Renier Botha, 21 JP Coetzee, 22 Refuoe Rampete, 23 Conraad van Vuuren.
FNB UCT-Ikeys: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Nicholas Holton, 11 Dylan Sage, 10 Warren Seals, 9 James Alexander, 8 Guy Alexander (captain), 7 Mark Prior, 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Jade Kriel, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Luke Stringer, 19 Tinotenda Zakeyo, 20 Ryand Dugmore, 21 Guy Schwikkard, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Kyle Whyte.
Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: JJ Wagner
