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Defending VC champs knocked out

The win for Pukke also meant that they booked their spot in this year's semifinals

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Pukke got off to a flying start in this crucial game and got the first points of the game through a try from wing Lucian Cupido.

The team from Potchefstroom dominated possession and territory after that score and almost found themselves further in front in the 13th when Cupido lost the ball trying to score a try in the corner.

All that territorial dominance eventually counted with fullback Rhyno Smith converting a penalty in the 15th minute to give his team an eight-point lead.

Just over a minute later Pukke made their way back inside the Shimlas half and after some good passing it was captain Jeandre Rudolph who went over for his team's second try.

Shimlas hit back soon after with a try of their own after Stephan Janse Van Rensburg sent his midfield partner Arthur Williams through a gap for a score just before the first strategy break. 

Pukke then pushed away once again when hooker Wilmar Arnoldi scored a magical try after some great work from Smith on attack. Smith converted and Pukke found themselves 17 points in front after 22 minutes.

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There was a scoring drought for the next ten minutes until Rudolph picked up a loose ball to race away and score his second try and give Pukke a 24-point lead. At half-time the score was 31-7.

The game was one big arm-wrestle for the first 20 minutes of the second half before hooker Elandre Huggett got Shimlas' second try after a driving maul.

With ten minutes to go Pukke extended their lead with a Bernhard Janse van Rensburg penalty, which meant Shimlas had to come from 20 points down late in the game to win.

Williams scored another try for Shimlas four minutes from time, but it was not enough for the defending champions who bowed out of the competition.

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The scorers:

For NWU-Pukke:

Tries: Cupido, Rudolph 2, Arnoldi

Con: Smith

Pens: Smith, Janse van Rensburg 2

For UFS-Shimlas:

Tries: Williams 2, Huggett

Cons: Mason, De Wet 3

Teams:

NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Lucian Cupido, 13 Johan Deysel, 12 Hendrik Marais, 11 Mahuza Sylvian, 10 Bernhard Janse van Rensburg, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Jaco Jordaan, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 Bartholomeus le Roux, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Mashudu Mafela.

Replacements: 16 Louis Van Der Westhuizen, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Ruan Venter, 19 Christiaan Liebenberg, 20 Chriswill September, 21 AK Nela, 22 Elden Schoeman, 23 Mogau Mabokela.

UFS-Shimlas: 15 Frederick Mason, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Stephan Janse Van Rensburg, 12 Arthur Williams, 11 Mosolwa Mafuma, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Murray Bondesio, 7 Neil Claassen, 6 Musa Mahlasela, 5 Jan Venter, 4 Dennis Visser, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Thabiso Khanye.

Replacements: 16 Marco Klopper, 17 Teunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Ntokozo Vidima, 19 Wilhelm Kotzenberg, 20 Albertus Pretorius, 21 Renaldo Meyer, 22 Apiwe Dinga, 23 Dolph Botha.

Referee: AJ Jacobs

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