PORT ELIZABETH – The Madibaz faithful packed into their home fortress on Friday afternoon, and the men in blue delivered exactly what they came to see, a commanding performance that emphatically erased the bitter taste of their opening-round defeat to FNB CPUT.
The hosts dismantled FNB UKZN with a clinical display that saw them run out 60-32 winners. The Impi were unable to keep the momentum from their opening round victory going.
Flying start sets the tone
Veteran Kyle Erasmus got the party started for the Nelson Mandela Bay outfit, crashing over for the opening five-pointer. But sport has a cruel sense of humour, barely 60 seconds later, FNB UKZN winger Lwanele Gaba capitalised on broken play to silence the home crowd momentarily.
The response was immediate and ruthless. Dewald Gerber restored the lead seven minutes later, barging over the whitewash before skipper Eddie Kruger added his name to the scoresheet. When star loose-forward Sean van Zijl powered through for a try of his own in the 36th minute, the writing appeared to be on the wall.
Late first-half fightback
FNB UKZN, however, refused to roll over. Centre Frederick Malgas produced a moment of magic two minutes into added time, slicing through the defensive line. The visitors then demonstrated their intent by opting for a tap instead of the easy conversion, and Abulele Bolotini dotted down.
Suddenly, the complexion of the contest had shifted. The sides headed into the sheds with FNB UKZN firmly back in contention, having scored two tries in quick succession to head into the break 24-15. The stage was set for a thriller.
Second-half onslaught
Unfortunately for the travelling contingent, that late first-half surge proved to be their final hurrah.
The second stanza belonged entirely to Madibaz. What transpired was nothing short of a try-scoring masterclass as the hosts cut loose, crossing the chalk with alarming regularity. The backline clicked into gear, the forwards provided go-forward ball, and the points flooded in.
Malgas did manage to showcase his individual brilliance once more, while replacement back Jovawn Visagie added a consolation score that deserved better context. Both were genuinely well-crafted efforts that, on another day, might have sparked a comeback. But by that stage, Madibaz had built an insurmountable advantage.
Bounce-back brilliance
This wasn’t just about the victory, it was about the manner of it. After stumbling in their tournament opener against FNB CPUT, Madibaz needed a response that would restore confidence and send a message to their remaining opponents. They delivered both in spades.
The significant points differential will prove invaluable as the competition progresses, potentially serving as a crucial tie-breaker should the log finish tightly bunched. More importantly, the performance demonstrated the squad’s character and depth.
