FNB Varsity Shield round six went down to the wire in two dramatic games where the FNB CPUT Blue Wave beat Bellville rivals FNB UWC by just one point while in Alice the bottom of the log battle lived up to expectations as home side FNB UFH scored in the 83rd min to beat Easten Cape rivals FNB WSU. The Comets stay top of the log after beating FNB UKZN while FNB Madibaz cruised past FNB SPU.
FNB UFH 25-24 FNB WSU
An impressive and season defining performance sealed a last gasp victory for the UFH Blues against arch-rivals WSU at the Davidson Stadium in Alice on Friday.
After leading 15-0 at the halfway point, the Blues showed class and composure to hold on to their win in front of their home supporters.
The Eastern Cape derby lived up to expectations, and it was the hosts who fired first with two tries in the first 40 courtesy of tries by captain, Bunono Jamani and Bulumko Mfundisi.
The second half was a totally different affair and WSU came out firing and showed intent from the get-go.
They scored three tries, the first from fullback Beon Hartnick before they were awarded a penalty try after relentless pressure.
WSU then capitalised on a man advantage in the 60th minute when Khanya Solani brushed off several defenders to dot over the whitewash.
They led 17-15 with 10 minutes to play but extended their lead with another late try scored by Buhlebenkosi Kedama in the 79th minute.
Just as the fans thought it was all done and dusted; the Blues had other ideas. With a minute remaining, they piled up the pressure and camped in WSU’s half until the final play of the game. A line out which resulted in a maul saw skipper, Jamani crash over for the winning try.
FNB CPUT 28-27 FNB UWC
In a thrilling encounter between rivals and neighbours CPUT and UWC, the home side edged a nail-biting contest at full-time. The match was a seesaw battle, with momentum shifting between the two sides throughout.
CPUT started strong, with Oyintando Maseti slotting an early penalty in the 10th minute to put them 3-0 ahead. Just two minutes later, Noah Pekeur crossed the whitewash for the first try of the game, though Maseti was unable to convert, leaving the score at 8-0.
UWC responded in the 24th minute through Conwill Conradie, who not only scored a try but also converted it himself, bringing the visitors within a point at 8-7. Five minutes later, Conradie added a penalty to push UWC into the lead at 10-8.
CPUT quickly reclaimed control with a penalty by Maseti in the 30th minute, making it 11-10. The home side extended their advantage just a minute later when Jacquin Jacobus dotted down, and Maseti converted to bring the score to 18-10.
However, UWC struck back before half-time through Bevan Simons, with Aaron Swartz converting to narrow the deficit to 18-17 at the break.
Early in the second half, UWC suffered a red card, giving CPUT an advantage. Maseti capitalised with a 58th-minute penalty, making it 21-17. But UWC refused to back down, as Hlomla Ncana scored in the 61st minute, with Swartz converting to push UWC ahead at 24-21.
The final 10 minutes saw high drama. Iwaan Bloys crashed over for CPUT in the 70th minute, and Maseti’s conversion restored their lead at 28-24. UWC fought until the end, earning a 75th-minute penalty, which Swartz converted to cut the gap to 28-27.
Despite a late push from UWC, CPUT held on to secure a hard-fought victory in a match that showcased high intensity, momentum swings, and clutch performances.
FNB Madibaz 38-28 FNB SPU
Madibaz continued their superb run in the Varsity Shield as they saw off a spirited challenge from competition new boys SPU in Gqeberha on Friday.
In weather that had it all – rain, brilliant sunshine and even fog – the home side came back from 14-0 down at one point to trump the men from Kimberley by 10 points.
SPU burst out the gates with tries by Leslie Ruiters and Cassie Botes coming in the first 20 minutes.
While the home supporters were a little shell-shocked, their side refused to panic and pieced together some great moves in the tight loose to rack up three unanswered tries through scrumhalf Curwin Casper, hooker Kyle Erasmus and lock Calvin Bosch to see out the half.
Seven minutes into the second stanza, Madibaz replacement prop Bahle Cengani got on the scoresheet as the Nelson Mandela Bay students began to up the ante.
SPU did not come to the Friendly City for fun though and were soon back in the game when fullback Bokamoso Maphisa stepped and weaved his way across the whitewash.
With 13 minutes to go, Erasmus dotted down for a second time as the Madibaz maul took on an ominous presence.
Yet it was still not over. A charging run by SPU front-rower Aviwe Mpepo put them back in touching distance but as thick gloom descended on the stadium, Madibaz flanker Johan van Zyl put the result beyond doubt when he got on the right end of another maul to score.
FNB Varsity College 41-17 FNB UKZN
A fantastic first half hat-trick from the inform Comets hooker, Jacques Marais helped the home side to a comfortable, 41-17 win against UKZN.
The hooker got his first two tries just after the 10th minute mark, as he was scoring routine tries, a close to the try line line-out which he himself was finishing off.
Right on the first 20 minutes break, Comets fullback Chandler Green brilliantly laid it off for winger, Allston Cedras who ran over the whitewash and dotted down for the Comets third try. The second 20 minutes saw the Comets hooker, Marais, getting his hat-trick on the night, while Juan Steyl also adding his name to the scoresheet, taking it to 29-0 right till the last minute of the half.
Right after the 40 minutes horn was blown, UKZN showed some life on the scoreboard. Ramatuku Sikhakhane was the man to get his team up as he managed to catch up a rolling chipped ball to dot down for his side.
The second half saw only two tries from the Comets a good, worked team try finished off by Mambo Mkhize and a spicy try from the best player in the field on the night, Edward Sigauke, who ripped off on a turbo charged gas. Sprinting his way over the try line.
In between, UKZN showed some tenacity as they added two more tries as well through TinoTendo Mazindhu and a cheeky one from Jovawn Visagie who slipped through the Comets defence.
Flyhalf, Frederick Marx and fullback Siso France managed to get four conversions altogether for their teams, three from Marx and one from France as the log leaders they defeated a stubborn Impi team.
Comentários