Defending champions Tuks continued their unbeaten run in the Varsity Cup with a 26-16 victory over UCT at the Green Mile.
An attacking lineout paid off for UCT as captain Liam Slatem followed up well on a Vince Jobo drive to rip the ball off Tuks tackler Ryan Nell and race over for the opening try which was converted by Dean Grant to make it 8-0.
A powerful driving maul put the visitors in great position, and big loosehead prop Juan Schoeman barged his way over on the stroke of half-time to level the scores at 8-8.
The home side had it all to do playing into the wind in the second half, but it was not long until Tuks stormed into their 22 where the ball was swung out to fullback Warrick Gelant who finished neatly in the corner.
Ikeys suffered another blow just after the second strategy break when a long Dean Grant pass was intercepted by Tuks prop Neethling Fouche, and the ball was worked out well to Duncan Matthews who dived over for their third try to make it 18-8.
Tuks were able to claim their bonus-point when replacement hooker Arno van Wyk barged over with minutes to go.
UCT claimed a late consolation when Huw Jones burst over for a try to end the game.
UCT – Tries: Liam Slatem, Huw Jones. Conversions: Dean Grant (2).
Tuks – Tries: Juan Schoeman, Warrick Gelant, Duncan Matthews, Arno van Wyk. Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2).
UCT – 15 Ross Jones-Davies, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Martin Sauls, 12 Nic Holton, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Dean Grant, 9 Liam Slatem (c), 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Vince Jobo, 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Jan Uys,3 Digby Webb, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Robin Murray.
Subs: 16 Chad Soloman, 17 Michael Kennedy, 18 Shaun McDonald, 19 Zakeyo Tinetenda, 20 James Alexander, 21 Huw Jones, 22 Suwilanji Chibale, 23 David Maasch.
Tuks – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Dries Swanepoel,12 Ryan Nell, 11 Kefentse Mahlo; 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Reniel Hugo (c), 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Arno van Wyk, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 19 Leneve Damens, 20 Emile Temperman, 22 Francois Tredoux, 22 Duncan Matthews, 23 Neethling Fouche.
Other results:
Shimlas 52 UJ 16
Shimlas scored seven tries on their way to a comprehensive 52-16 victory over UJ in Bloemfontein. Oupa Mohoje, Maphuta Dolo, Sethu Tom, Tertius Kruger, Divandré Strydom, and Joubert Engelbrecht, who crossed the UJ line twice, were all try-scorers on the night.
Maties 18 Wits 15
Wits, winless in the Varsity Cup since being promoted in 2013, went down 18-15 to the three-times champions at a very windy Danie Craven Stadium. Maties scored through tries from Freddie Kirsten, Jan de Klerk and Robert du Preez.
NMMU 16 Pukke 52
Pukke bounced back from last week’s loss to Maties in style as they hammered a hapless NMMU 52-16 in Port Elizabeth. Pukke’s try-scorers included Armand van der Merwe, Edmar Marais, Francois Robbertse, Juan Language, Luther Obi and Sylvian Mahuza, who scored two.
Varsity Shield results:
UKZN 32 TUT 8
The men from KZN scored three tries in the first half to blow their opponents away before adding another in the second 40. Stefan van Schalkwyk scored two, while Zwela Zondi and Shayne Makombe each got one.
CUT 29 Fort Hare 31
UFH Blues flyhalf Oliver Zono scored a try just four minutes from time to edge CUT Ixias 31-29 in Bloemfontein. Zono had scored earlier, as had Billy Dutton and Madoda Ludidi.
Photo: Varsity Cup
