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February 6 – The University of Johannesburg started their FNB varsity Cup campaign on a losing note when they went down 23-8 to Tuks at Tuks Rugby Stadium on Monday night.
Nought came of taking revenge for Tuks’ semi-final win last year to oust log leaders UJ from the competition. The home side ran in three tries to one.
It was simply one of those nights for UJ where they made the mistakes that let Tuks in for their tries while squandering a number of their own opportunities.
There is much work for UJ coach Hugo van As with a team that too often neglected the basics on the field and conceded too many penalties and lineouts. It will take a mind-shift and greater discipline from the players in their next game, against the Ikey Tigers at UK Stadium next Monday, to get back on the title track.
Last year’s losing finalists were at times impressive and UJ were rather average in a match that had its moments and was as hard as to be expected in the Jukskei derby, but generally did not produce the fireworks the two sides are capable of.
The win came on the basis of a solid platform from the Tuks front five that gave their loose forwards and backs go-forward ball to work from, and also an outstanding defence. They also made fewer mistakes and despite failing to score a bonus point, were full value for the win.
With the score 23-0 to Tuks after 47 minutes, UJ seemed out of it. Even when they pulled back an eight-pointer through a try by JR Esterhuizen after 58 minutes to reduce the score to 23-8, it seemed unlikely that they could salvage the game. And so it was.
UJ were completely outplayed in the first 15 minutes with the Tuks forwards dominant and the backs slick in their handling. However, when UJ fought back in the second quarter they squandered a number of scoring chances. Regular transgressions at the breakdown and some uncertain handling cost UJ dearly as they tried to make up the leeway following an early strike by Tuks through a converted Hayden Groepes try after four minutes and a penalty that Wesley Dunlop kicked through from right in front to make it 10-0 after just seven minutes.
Although the Tuks’ first try came through some good forward play and good hands, it stemmed from an earlier UJ mistake. And that was also the case three minutes before the break when a UJ handling error by UJ saw Okkie Kruger dribble the ball through with lock Franco Mostert collecting from the bounce to plunge over. Dunlop converted again and the home side went into the break 18-0 to the good.
It was more of the same after halftime. The third Tuks try from a lineout maul was simply too easy after some sterling earlier defence by UJ in this facet.
Scorers:
FNB Tuks: Tries: Hayden Groepes, Franco Mostert, Jono Ross. Conversions: Wesley Dunlop (2). Penalty: Dunlop
FNB UJ: Try: JR Esterhuizen. Conversion: Guy Cronjé.
** In their third match in a week, Wits ran in six tries on their way to a convincing 43-20 victory over FNB at the Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday.
Wits got in front early thanks to an early try from lock Rinus Boths and took a 17-2 lead into the half-time break. They stretched that with a flurry of second-half tries before UWC regrouped and hit back with two late tries of their own to bring some respectability to the score.
Wits will be thrilled with the intensity of their performance in what was their third game in a week.
Scorers:
FNB Wits: Tries: Rinus Botha, Bronson Lange, Charles Baggott, Devin Montgomery, Riaan Arends, Sam Peters. Conversions: Kyle Peyper (3). Penalties: Peyper (2)
FNB UWC: Tries: Njabulo Ndlovu, Maxwel Andrews, Cheslyn Roberts. Conversion: Ambrose Steyn. Penalty: Charl van Vollenhoven
Other scores:
Varsity Cup: Maties 52, TUT 2; Ikey Tigers 10 Shimlas 38; NMMU 16 NWU-Pukke 26
Varsity Shield: UFH 36 UKZN 21
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