FNB UKZN bounced back in style when the men from KwaZulu-Natal hosted FNB WSU in a Round 2 fixture in the FNB Varsity Shield at Howard College Stadium on Thursday. On Friday, FNB Madibaz secured their first tournament maximum points after defeating UFH at Madibaz Stadium. In a nail-biting clash at Suzuki Stadium, FNB CPUT were the last men standing after narrowly beating FNB SPU while FNB UWC roared on the road against FNB Varsity College.
FNB UKZN 33-12 FNB WSU
It was quite the first 20 minutes in the match between UKZN and the All Blacks with no team recording any points. UKZN Siso France was unlucky to miss a penalty from 30 meters out right before the first strategy break with that being one of the only chances of any points.
The IMPI flyhalf got his brace of penalties to take his team to a 6-0 lead into the halfway break wrapping up a tense first half.
The second half was more adventurous, as France bagged his third and fourth penalties with All Blacks getting in two tries in between them. One of the tries for the away side was unconverted which took the contest to an interesting 19-12 at the second strategy break with the home team's Zac Smith dotting down a France converted try right on the break time.
It was all FNB UKZN from that point as Aphelele Dlamini finished a beautiful Smith chip to make it to make it 26-12 to the home side.
The final nail was struck with a home team try resulting from a driving maul that was dotted down by FNB UKZ’s Thabiso Ncube taking the final score to 33-12 as France converted the remaining tries
FNB Madibaz 32-16 FNB UFH
Madibaz bounced back from their opening round defeat to Varsity College with a convincing 32-16 win against UFH at Madibaz Stadium.
Madibaz flyhalf Raashied Conrad put the Gqeberha side in front with a penalty around the 10-minute mark but seconds later UFH hooker Bunono Jamani crashed over the whitewash for the visitors’ only five-pointer, duly converted by Blues No 10 Sinalo Jivana.
Shortly after the strategy break, Madibaz winger Emihle Zaza ran in for one of the tries of the season so far, bouncing off defenders as he charged towards the line.
While Conrad was unable to convert, he would get a second bite of the cherry four minutes later when NMU’s talismanic skipper Leon van der Merwe got on the back of a rolling maul and dotted down. This time Conrad made no mistake.
Jivana then came into his own, slotting three difficult penalties as Madibaz’s discipline dropped off towards the end of the half.
But just as it seemed UFH might take a handy lead into the break, Madibaz flanker Sean van Zijl scored from another rolling maul. Conrad added the extra two.
Van Zijl, who has represented Western Province at Under-19 level, is certainly leaving his mark on the Varsity Shield and it would be a brave man to bet against him becoming a future star.
The scorers were not disturbed again until the 69th minute, when Madibaz centre Caleb Friskin slotted a three-pointer.
The result was put beyond doubt when replacement back Bukho Pantsi ran in for a try after a brilliant line break by Van Zijl.
FNB Varsity College 36-40 FNB UWC
The mouth-watering clash between Varsity College and UWC in Durban was exactly what everyone was waiting for and it delivered.
It was the home team who struck first blood after a wonderful steal from a line out by Edward Sigauke sliding through for the home team's first try converted by Frederick Marx.
UWC did not waste any time and responded about a minute later, through their strong Captain Romauld Nsombamanya, whose try converted by their flyhalf Aaron Swartz.
A few minutes later, Comets prop Okuhlekodwa Meyiwa gave the home side an advantage which was shortly cancelled out by Leachim Adams of the away team who made equal at 12-12 into the first Suzuki Strategy Break.
There were tries galore in the second quarter of the match as five more tries were scored. Jacques Marais adding his name in the scoreboard and Meyiwa getting his brace for the home side. On the opposite end for the away team, flyhalf Swartz, Leighton Damon and J’que Huckins all dotted down.
The end of the first half saw UWC lead by nine points - 33-24.
Comets came back promisingly in the second half with a quick try a few minutes into the half by Anwill Prins which took the game to a tight 33-31 to the away team. A score line which was to be into the last quarter of the game.
The final 20 minutes were as encapsulating with Varsity College receiving their third yellow card after their captain Abande Mthembu received his booking which allowed the away team to extend their lead to 40-31 courtesy of a Conwill Conradie try which was converted by Swartz.
The home team gave themselves some hope when Christian Els crossed the whitewash to make the last few minutes nail-biting ones.
Comets were close to scoring a last minute try as they were less than two meters away from the try-line, however, an infringement by the home team gave the away side a penalty and gave UWC an opportunity to hold on to their lead. The final score 40-36 to the away team.
FNB SPU 20-22 FNB CPUT
In a dramatic finish at Suzuki Park in Kimberley, CPUT edged out SPU 22-20 in their Varsity Shield encounter, with a last-minute try sealing the win.
The match opened with a penalty by Oyintando Maseti in the 14th minute, giving CPUT an early lead. Their momentum continued as Lihle Kula powered through a driving maul to score a try in the 26th minute, though the conversion was unsuccessful.
SPU struggled with discipline, conceding multiple penalties but managed to get on the board before half-time with a Khanya Kama penalty, making it 8-3 at the break.
SPU came out firing in the second half, with Tyron China diving over the try line in the 41st minute and Kama’s conversion putting them ahead 10-8. CPUT quickly responded as Praveen Padayachiey scored in the corner, and Maseti added the extras to reclaim the lead at 15-10.
Aviwe Mpepo’s try and another Kama conversion in the 52nd minute saw SPU regain control at 17-15. Kama extended their lead to 20-15 with a penalty in the 57th minute.
With time running out, CPUT’s persistence paid off as Kyle Ahrendse crossed the whitewash in the 74th minute and Maseti’s conversion secured a stunning 22-20 victory.
Despite a valiant effort by SPU, it was CPUT who celebrated a hard-fought win, proving their resilience in a nail-biting Varsity Shield encounter.
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