Pukke outplay UJ in semi
Pukke was the more composed team throughout the 80 minutes and never looked in trouble in the game.
The team from Potchefstroom started like a house on fire and led 12-0 after 10 minutes.
Fullback Rhyno Smith opened the scoring with a penalty before centre Sylvian Mahuza scored a seven-point try after the ball was sent wide deep in the UJ 22 after a breakout
UJ did have their opportunities to put points on the board in the opening 25 minutes, but flyhalf Divan Nel missed two penalty kicks.
The home team finally got their first score in the 33rd minute when scrumhalf Devon Mare sniped through the Pukke defence off a scrum in the visitors 22 to score a try. Nel converted from a tough angle to reduce the deficit to just five points.
Pukke were then gifted a nine-point try just before half-time when UJ fullback Ronald Brown failed to gather a high ball from a kick which started in the Pukke half. The loose ball was then snapped up with Mahuza running in for his second try.
Smith then completed the scoring in the first half with a massive drop goal to give his team a 22-point lead at the break.
UJ upped the temp in the second half, but their final pass let them down in the strike zone.
Although no points were being scored, the game was exciting with both teams playing out of their skin out wide. By the second strategy break, Pukke were still looking comfortable with their 22-point lead.
UJ again had plenty of opportunities to score in the final quarter, but Pukke's scrambling defence was just too good in the final third.
Instead it was Pukke who extended their lead in the 65th minute when Smith slotted another penalty.
The game was well and truly put to bed three minutes before time when Smith converted another penalty in what was a dominant performance by Pukke.
The scorers:
For UJ:
Try: Mare
Con: Nel
For NWU-Pukke:
Tries: Mahuza 2
Cons: Smith 2
Pens: Smith 4
DG: Smith
Teams:
UJ: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Peter-John Walters, 13 Bradley Moolman, 12 Robert de Bruyn, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Divan Nel, 9 Devon Mare, 8 Jakobus Porter (captain), 7 Johan Oosthuizen, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 David Antonites, 4 FP Pelser, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Johannes Snyman, 1 Siyakubonga Nzuzo.
Replacements: 16 Emmanuel Morowane, 17 Kyle Kruger, 18 Jeremy Jordan, 19 Kyle van Dalen, 20 Hilton Mudariki, 21 Caswell Khoza, 22 Dominic Kroezen, 23 Waldo Weideman.
NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Lucian Cupido, 13 Sylvian Mahuza, 12 Hendrik Marais, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Bernhard Janse van Rensburg, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 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 Johan Smith, 18 Ruan Venter, 19 Christiaan Liebenberg, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Akhona Nela, 22 Elden Schoeman, 23 Mogau Mabokela.
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Willie Vos
