First win still eludes tenacious TUT

The FNB TUT Vikings have already improved on their 2009 Varsity Cup performance list, but a first win since March 2008 still continues to elude them.

They gave FNB Shimlas quite a scare in Bloemfontein on Monday night, before – eventually – going down 31-37.

Last year, the Vikings ended last on the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International log with two points after seven defeats. After five games in the 2010 competition, and with two rounds remaining, the FNB Vikings already have two points to their credit – but they are still without a win.

“What is encouraging is that we are far more competitive than last year, but we have been with our backs to the wall so long, that it is easier said than done to make that final step to, what I think, would be a well deserved victory,” FNB Vikings head coach Alex de Kock told varsitycup.co.za.

“It’s very frustrating as we have come so close to breaking this drought on three occasions now, but almost every time we lost focus and concentration in a critical stage of the match and eventually had to pay the price for that.

“We are really playing good rugby and are not a pushover any longer, but a small mistake here and there still leads to our downfall,” he added.

TUT, in recent weeks, have held the lead against Tuks and UCT, before losing 30-42 and 19-25, respectively, to their highly-rated opponents.

“We’ve really grown as a team in the last three weeks and we cannot wait for our first win. We will go flat-out to beat Pukke next Monday in Potchefstroom,” concluded De Kock.

The Pukke v TUT – Round Six – fixture, which will be played at the Fanie du Toit Stadium in Potchefstroom, kicks-off at 6.30pm on Monday, March 8.

By Morris Gilbert

Report: TUT just lose out in Bloemfontein.