The FNB UFS Shimlas absolutely demolished their neighbours FNB CUT Ixias 71-19 in a Bloemfontein derby that will haunt the visitors for weeks to come.
This wasn’t just a victory. This was a masterclass in forward brutality, a clinical dissection that saw the two-time champions claim maximum points and the bragging rights in emphatic fashion during round three of the FNB Varsity Cup.
Forward power reigns supreme
The Shimlas ripped up their usual attacking blueprint and went full Neanderthal, and it was glorious. Forget the flashy backline moves; this was about rolling mauls, dominant set-pieces, and physical intimidation at the coalface.
Junior Springbok scrumhalf Erich Visser set the tone early, darting over following a thunderous maul that left the Ixias defenders scrambling. It was a warning shot that went unheeded.
What followed was a masterclass in exploiting poor discipline. The Ixias’ penalty count spiralled out of control, and the Shimlas showed absolutely no mercy.
Bezuidenhout and Vergottini run riot
Hooker Jaco Bezuidenhout became the star of the show, crashing over for a hat-trick, all from lineout mauls. The Ixias simply had no answer to the Shimlas’ driving game, their defence splintering like cheap wood under the relentless pressure.
Flanker Ferdi Vergottini joined the party with a brace before the break, capitalising on yet more ill-discipline from the visitors. Captain Henri van Heerden added his name to the scoresheet during a powerplay, and by half-time, the scoreboard read a humiliating 42-0.
The Ixias trudged to the sheds shell-shocked. Their supporters stunned into silence.
Second-Half onslaught continues
If the Ixias hoped for respite after the interval, they were sorely mistaken. Just four minutes into the second half, the referee awarded a penalty try to the Shimlas. The writing wasn’t just on the wall, it was spray-painted in fluorescent letters.
Vergottini completed his hat-trick shortly after in what was described as a rare appearance for the flanker, proving once again that the Shimlas’ forward pack was operating on a different level entirely.
Ixias show late fight
To their credit, the Ixias finally found their voice. Centre Winton Abrahams broke the duck, scoring the first of his brace and sparking a brief purple patch for the visitors.
Tiaan Kriek added a converted try, and suddenly the Ixias began playing with freedom. Devinto Vergotine crossed before Abrahams produced the moment of the match for CUT, a stunning point-of-origin try, running the length of the field to score.
It was a flash of brilliance in an otherwise torrid evening, a reminder that on their day, the Ixias possess dangerous attacking weapons.
Shimlas have final say
But this was UFS’s night, and they weren’t about to let their neighbours steal the narrative. Replacement hooker Marnus Winter crashed over following yet another penalty-driven set-piece, before lock Marno Stopforth powered over for a powerplay try to rub salt in gaping wounds.
Final score: 71-19. The gulf in class, ruthless.
Discipline wins derbies
The contrast in discipline told the story of this match. While the Ixias were pinged repeatedly, gifting the Shimlas field position and easy points, UFS produced what any coach would frame as a textbook example of game management.
They stayed composed, stuck to their forward-dominated game plan, and executed with surgical precision. When the Ixias strayed offside or infringed at the breakdown, the Shimlas made them pay, every single time.
In derby rugby, bragging rights matter. On this evidence, the Shimlas own Bloemfontein. Their forward pack was immense, their discipline impeccable, and their execution clinical.
For one night at least, the Free State capital belonged entirely to the men in Shimlas colours.
