Unbeaten Shimlas to host Pukke

Mar 31 • General News, Varsity & Club, Varsity Cup • 2120 Views • Comments Off on Unbeaten Shimlas to host Pukke

The unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas will host FNB NWU-Pukke in their first-ever FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International final in Bloemfontein.

The Free State side saw off defending champions FNB UCT in their home semifinal, and NWU-Pukke edged table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria to book a place in their second consecutive final.

A late try from flyhalf Jonny Welthagen saw NWU-Pukke snatch a dramatic 29-28 victory over UP-Tuks to send the two-time champions crashing out of the competition.

Welthagen had been the villain of NWU-Pukke’s defeat to UCT in last year’s final in Potchefstroom, but he turned to hero in Pretoria as a superb individual effort saw his side through.

NWU-Pukke were the only team to beat UP-Tuks in the round robin phase of the competition, and they made it a season double to set up a final clash against their old rivals in Bloemfontein on Monday, April 13.

UFS-Shimlas proved too strong for the Ikeys in the first semifinal, outscoring the Cape side by three tries to two to secure a spot in their first final which they will play in front of their home crowd thanks to NWU-Pukke’s win against UP-Tuks.

FNB Wits will hosts FNB UKZN in the Varsity Shield final in Johannesburg next week, after the Kwa-Zulu Natal outfit picked up a comfortable 42-0 victory over FNB Fort Hare in Durban.

Wits had already secured a home final ahead of their clash with FNB UWC, and the teams ended tied for the second time this season as UWC fell short of a place in the final, ending the season in third place.

The Varsity Young Guns final next week will see a replay of last years’ final only at a different venue as defending champions UFS host UP-Tuks in Bloemfontein.

The Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championship final will see UP-Tuks’ Steinhoff Mopanie go up against UFS-Shimlas’ Steinhoff Vishuis after they cruised to a 71-13 victory over Steinhoff Bastion.

NWU-Pukke’s FNB Patria cruised to an 84-0 win over UCT’s Steinhoff Cobras, but it was not enough as they finished the season in third place.