Impi remain impenetrable force

Curwin Bosch was the star of the show as the Impi ran in nine tries to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition. Despite seeing their lead slip away, TUT were able to bag a four-try bonus point, which sees them move off the bottom of the table.

In the other match of the night, Wits ensured they moved into second place on the log thanks to a 37-8 bonus point victory over Fort Hare in Alice. The Johannesburg students ran in five tries on their way to the comfortable victory.

The loss means that Fort Hare is now rooted to the foot of the table, having managed a solitary point from their three matches.

We look at all Thursday's action!

Fort Hare 8-37 Wits

Wits made a fast start when No.8 Constant Beckerling made his way over the try line to grab the first points of the game. Flyhalf Warren Gilbert made no mistake in adding the extras to hand the visitors an 8-0 lead.

Both sides looked to add further points to the scoreboard but it remained unchanged after 20 minutes of play before prop CJ Conradie burst his way over the line to grab Wits' second try. Gilbert was on song with his second kick of the match to stretch the lead to 16-0.

Fort Hare were not going down without a fight and grabbed a converted try of their own to reduce the deficit to eight points but that would be their only points of the encounter.

Wits centre Joshua Jarvis handed the visitors the perfect reply as he added his name to the scoresheet. Gilbert added the extras to extend their lead to 24-8. Thing got worse for the home side when fullback Vukile Novuka was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

Wits took full advantage of the extra man and brought up their bonus point when Conradie grabbed his second of the night to stretch the lead to 21 points. There was no letting up from the visitors as loose forward Connor Brocksmidt got his side's fifth of the night to make it 37-8 after 55 minutes.

Wits were unable to add any further points in the closing minutes but were reduced to 14-men when replacement hooker Craig Hume was sent to the bin. The lead proved too much for Fort Hare as Wits claimed the comfortable victory.

Scorers:

For Fort Hare:

Try: Sias

Con: Bisset

For Wits:

Tries: Beckerling, Conradie 2, Jarvis, Brocksmidt

Cons: Gilbert 4

Teams:

Fort Hare: 15 Vukile Novuka, 14 Aziyena Mandaba, 13 Luyolo Batshise, 12 Siphosethu Tom, 11 Asiphe Fihla, 10 Siviwe Bisset, 9 Elandre Sias, 8 Philisani Ncoko, 7 Zanoxolo Qwele, 6 Malusi Vula, 5 Athenkosi Makeleni, 4 Sibusiso Sityebi, 3 Olwethu Mputla, 2 Justin Antonie, 1 Bulelani Mdodana.

Replacements: 16 Mzingabantu Vitsha, 17 Lusindiso Nkomo, 18 Asiphe Fanele, 19 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 20 Qhama Masiza, 21 Athiphila Mlotywa, 22 Akhona Matutu, 23 Lulamile Kama.

Wits: 15 AJ van Blerk, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Joshua Jarvis, 12 Wade Worthington, 11 Sicelo Champion, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Constant Beckerling, 7 Connor Brocksmidt, 6 Ruan MacDonald, 5 Rhynou Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Papuma, 2 CJ Conradie,1 Tijde Visser.

Replacements: 16 Craig Hume, 17 Ameer Williams, 18 Mitchell Fraser, 19 Ayabulela Mdudi, 20 Luxolo Ntsepe, 21 Kyle Weseman, 22 Wian Coetzee, 23 Brandon Palmer.

Referee: Rodney Boneparte

TUT-Vikings 30-63 UKZN-Impi

UKZN shot out of the blocks thanks to a Jean Drotse try. Flyhalf Curwin Bosch had the radar locked as he added the extras to make it 8-0. TUT his straight back though as Calvin Maduna got his side's first try of the night.

Flyhalf Lukas Van Zyl held his nerve to level matters at 8-8 before slotting handing the home side a 10-8 lead with a well-taken penalty.

The visitors were back in front a few minutes later as outside centre Grant Rattray made his way over the whitewash to edge his side ahead 13-10 after 20 minutes. Wits wing Tshepo Nyathi was not going to be outdone though as he restored his sides lead. The conversion by van Zyl made it 23-13 in the home side's favour.

Van Zyl was on target yet again with his second penalty of the night to stretch the lead to 12 points but the Impi had the final say of the half with S'busiso Nkosi getting his side's third try of the night to leave his side trailing 18-25 at the half-time break.

The Impi retook the lead early in the second half when Drotse grabbed his second of the night and Bosch split the uprights to edge the visitors ahead by a single point. Andrew Acton got in on the action with UKZN's fifth try. Bosch's conversion extending the lead to 34-25.

There was no stopping the Impi from that point and when Nkosi grabbed his second try of the night in the 58th minute, the writing was on the wall for the home side. Another Bosch conversion made it a 17 point game.

TUT were certainly not going to give up and a converted Shawn Jaards try in the 62nd minute brought the home side back in the contest as it reduced the deficit to just 12 points. However, that would be their only points of the second half.

Further UKZN tries by Tristan Blewett and a Tristan Tredder brace in the final 15 minutes helped the Impi remain the only unbeaten side in the competition and maintain a healthy seven point lead at the top of the table.

Scorers:

For TUT-Vikings:

Tries: Maduna, Nyati, TBC, Jaards

Cons: van Zyl 2

Pens: van Zyl 2

For UKZN-Impi:

Tries: Drotse 2, Rattray, Nkosi 2, Acton, Blewett, Tredder 2

Cons: Bosch 6

Teams:

TUT-Vikings: 15 Lisa Banzi, 14 Xavier Gaffley, 13 Arno Brits, 12 Ian Truter, 11 Tshepo Nyathi, 10 Lukas van Zyl, 9 Shawn Jaards, 8 Jason Johannes, 7 Francois de Villiers, 6 Percy Matlhoko, 5 William Thomson, 4 Calvin Maduna, 3 Nkateko Ngonyama, 2 Christo Lategan, 1 Ratsaka Modjadji.

Replacements: 16 Jurie Huyser, 17 Jacob Nelson, 18 George Letshuma, 19 Armand Marshall, 20 Litha Vumisa, 21 Dumsani Mthethwa, 22 Frank Abrahams, 22 Jonty Voogt.

UKZN-Impi: 15 Siphathisene Dube, 14 S'busiso Nkosi, 13 Grant Rattray, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Shayne Makhombe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Willem Badenhorst, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Sanele Malwane, 6 Sizwe Puza, 5 Jean Drotse, 4 Jordan Martin, 3 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana, 2 Mikyle Webster (captain), 1 Andrew Acton.

Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Lindokuhle Radebe, 18 Rikus Zwart, 19 Njabulo Zondi, 20 Langelihle Shange, 21 Tristan Tedder, 22 Tristan Blewett, 23 Pierre van der Walt.

Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi