FNB CUT prevailed 38-21 against hosts FNB UWC in a wet, rain-soaked and error-ridden encounter at UWC Stadium in Cape Town on Monday. The half-time score was 33-7.
As would be expected when torrents of rain bucket down on a rugby field, there were plenty of errors. But that didn’t prevent the Ixias from scoring two tries (Jacobus Cloete, Juan Smith) within 15 minutes and race to a 14-point lead.
The period following the first-half strategy break was a discipline nightmare for UWC with three yellow cards and a red card in quick succession. The relentless pressure CUT was applying clearly paid dividends.
The visitors added three more tries before the halftime siren with Liam Prinsloo, Albertus Venter, and Asekho Marubelela all getting their name added to the try-scoring sheet.
Stand-in Udubs captain, Romuad Nsombamanya, who took over the leadership from injured Tasriq Mynhardt, scored the hosts’ only first-half try with Wian van der Sandt adding the extras off the tee. Despite a valiant effort and two late second-half tries from UWC, they left it too late. This was Paul Treu’s third consecutive loss in their return to the Varsity Cup fold.
Vasity Shield: Tuks beats CPUT
FNB UP-Tuks scored a decisive 61-10 victory over FNB CPUT in their first home game of the 2024 season.
The Stripe Generation opened the scoring when Kean Galant flew over the try line following a relentless attack from the Tuks forwards. It did not take long for Dewey Swartbooi’s troops to get their second try as Tharquinn Manuel broke away to make it 14-0, Jean-Pierre Wentzel making no mistake from the tee with his second conversion.
The visitors registered their first points courtesy of a penalty from the powerful boot of Oyintando Maseti.
Tuks, however continued to pile on the pressure on their opponents when burly prop Ethan Burger got his name on the score sheet. CPUT looked dangerous on the counterattack and they were rewarded with a try from pacey winger Linton Maritz.
The home side however wrapped up the first stanza with a bonus point try from Zander Reynders, with Tuks leading 28-10 at the break.
In the one-sided affair, Tuks continued to dominate and registered five more tries in the second half.
They were awarded a penalty try in the 46th minute when CPUT’s Ayabulela Zono collapsed the maul. Seventeen minutes Ethan Burger registered his brace. Another try followed from the forward pack, this time through substitute Jonathan Smit.
Nqubeko Mkwanazi and Bayanda Ngubane flew over in the corner to wrap up the Tuks party.
