Tuks secure home semi
Photo: Anton Geyser
A strong second half showing saw FNB UP-Tuks claim a hard-fought 34-0 victory over a stubborn FNB UJ side in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International in Johannesburg.
The bonus point victory cemented Tuks’ spot on top of table – albeit by points difference – as well as securing a home semifinal, after failing to reach the knock-out phase in 2014.
UJ started the sharper of the sides and, spurred on by a boisterous crowd, took the game to their more fancied opponents in the opening exchanges. However, Tuks would be the first to get over the try line when Dewald Human rounded off a free-flowing counter-attack but the try was denied by the TMO as there was a forward pass in the build-up.
The too-and-fro nature of the match continued all the way to the first Strategy Break but, following numerous attacks from both sides, it would be Tuks who broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Daniel Kriel rounded off an attack after Joshua Stander collected his own cheeky chip kick before the ball was shovelled wide into Kriel’s hands.
The home side began to pile on the pressure on their opponents and camped in their territory for the majority of the half but some stellar Tuks defence kept the home side at bay. The visitors managed to hold onto their slender 5-0 lead as the teams went into the halftime break.
Tuks emerged rejuvenated from the break and went in search of extending their lead but UJ were up to the challenge and kept them at bay. The constant barrage of attacks would pay off for the visitors as Dayan van der Westhuizen crashed over in the 52nd minute to double Tuks’ lead. Two became three on the stroke of the Strategy Break when UJ were at sixes and sevens defence which allowed John Jackson to crash over. Joshua Stander managed to land his first kick of the match to extend the lead to 18-0.
Tuks secured the bonus point in the 68th minute when Stander produced a moment of brilliance at first receiver off the back of a scrum. He threw a dummy before splitting the UJ defence before converting the try. The visitors would distance themselves further away from their opponents as Andrew Beerwinkel added his name to the try scorers list, with Stander adding the extra points.
The match fizzled out from there as the Gauteng bragging rights will be held by the men from Pretoria.
FNB Player that Rocks: André Warner
Scorers:
For FNB UJ: None
For FNB UP-Tuks:
Tries: Kriel, van der Westhuizen, Jackson, Stander, Beerwinkel
Cons: Stander 3
Teams:
FNB UJ: 15 Aphiwe Dyanti, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Andries Osthuizen, 10 Jaco Fourie, 9 Chuma Faas, 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Kyle Van Dalen, 6 Kobus Porter (captain), 5 David Antonites, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Siphatho Qinisile, 1 Gareth Milasinovich.
Replacements: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Raeez Salie, 18 Griffith van Wyk, 19 Wiaan Conradie, 20 Hilton Mudarika, 21 James Campbell, 22 Dominic Kroezen, 23 Brandon Landsberg.
FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Dewald Human, 14 Damian van Wyk, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 John Jackson, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Jan van der Merwe, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Jacques Rossouw, 22 Adrian Maebane, 23 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.
Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Johan Greeff
