Late WSU try breaks UKZN-Impi's hearts

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: WSU scored a late converted try to beat UKZN 32-31, while there were also Varsity Shield wins for TUT and CPUT at Tuks Stadium on Thursday.

We take a closer look at Thursday’s matches!

RHODES 8 (8) CPUT 68 (21)

Defending champions CPUT ran in 10 tries as they smashed their way through the Stallions.

Such was the Tekkies’ dominance that even a lightning-enforced hiatus did little to dampen their spirits as they attacked at will.

The men from the Cape peninsula were rampant in their crushing set play as the Rhodents just couldn’t match their physicality or rush defence, often finding themselves flustered whenever they did have possession.

CPUT racked up a 21-8 lead at the break as they ran in three tries courtesy of a brace by outside centre Björkan Hendricks, while lock Joshua Paris scored a beaut as he intercepted a wayward pass just inside his half to gallop like an escaped giraffe to the whitewash. Flyhalf Imibongo Mgijima converted all.

The Stallions had wing Matthew Royle to thank as his try from a quick tap penalty and lone penalty were all that they could muster in the first 40.

The Tekkies found their groove in the second half as they touched down three tries, two converted, in just six minutes as prop Onika Mgijima, replacement scrumhalf Hughwan Engelbrecht and Asisipho Malotana all crossed the chalk.

With the match all but wrapped up by the second strategy break, one would think that CPUT would take the foot of the pedal. This was absolutely not the case as Malotana scored his second while No.8 Phumlani Mkhaliphi, Mgijima and replacement loose forward Butsha Mputa etched their names on the score sheet to secure an extremely satisfying return on an 80-minute effort.

Player that Rocks: Imibongo Vabaza (CPUT)

The scorers:

For Rhodes:
Try: Royle
Pen: Royle

For CPUT:
Tries: Hendricks 2, Paris, Mgijima, Engelbrecht, Mkhaliphi, Malotana 2, Vabaza, Mputa
Cons: Vabaza 9

Teams:

Rhodes: 15 Simamkele Ngantweni, 14 Dimitri Mngqolo, 13 Simelela Mbanzi, 12 Cameron Marais, 11 Matthew Royle, 10 Abonga Manka, 9 Nicholas Dettmer, 8 Qawe Mzawuziwa, 7 TC Junior Manana, 6 Athenkosi Nkewana, 5 Bongumusa Mokoena, 4 Sithembele Njokweni, 3 Sinolwazingekamvalakhe Ralo (captain), 2 Lelethu Mngxali, 1 Tatenda Tichiwangana.
Replacements: 16 Loyiso Isaacs, 17 Katlego Petje, 18 Ntsika Ndungane, 19 Kwandiwe Mbelani, 20 Viwe Makeleni, 21 Garfield Khanyile, 22 Simamkele Mpehlo, 23 Kuhle Mqingwana.

CPUT: 15 Tauriq Gamieldien, 14 Clint Joseph/Christopher Andrews, 13 Björkan Hendricks, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Asisipho Malotana, 10 Imibongo Vabaza, 9 Cuan Maree, 8 Phumlani Mkhaliphi, 7 Roland van der Heever, 6 Ché Klaasen, 5 Joshua Paris, 4 Bradley van Boven, 3 Matthew Coenraad, 2 Lucien Phillips (captain), 1 Onika Mgijima.
Replacements: 16 Jacques-Lynn Josephus, 17 Damian Isaacs, 18 Dé-Angelo Williams, 19 Mogamat Ameer Hendricks, 20 Butsha Mputa, 21 Hughwan Engelbrecht, 22 Nathan Nkutu, 23 Chester Raven Smith.

UFH BLUES 24 (14) TUT VIKINGS 31 (22)

Lusanda Xakwana kicked eight penalty goals as the TUT Vikings began their Varsity Shield campaign with a confidence-boosting win.

The flyhalf also slotted a conversion to finish with a 26-point haul that earned him the Player That Rocks award.

UFH outscored their opponents by three tries to one, with their first coming in just the second minute of the match through flyhalf Apiwe Sidloyi.

TUT pulled one back through prop Ruhan Oosthuizen but after flank Laro Delport was sent to the sin bin, they had a kick charged down which resulted in a try to Blues centre Keith Chiwara.

TUT won the scrum battle and had a big kicking weapon in Xakwana, whose four penalties helped give the Pretoria side a 22-14 half-time lead.

Wing Lukho Jongizulu did well to score UFH’s third try when he grounded the ball on the line after it had been kicked ahead in the 50th minute, and the conversion made it a one-point game.

While TUT flank Phuzukuvela Sithole was yellow-carded, Xakwana kicked three penalties in the final 15 minutes to secure the win.

Player That Rocks: Lusanda Xakwana (TUT)

The scorers:

For UFH Blues:
Tries: Sidloyi, Chiwara, Jongizulu
Cons: Fields 3
Pen: Fields

For TUT Vikings:
Try: Oosthuizen
Con: Xakwana
Pens: Xakwana 8

Teams:

UFH Blues: 15 Brandt Fields, 14 Baleni Yonela, 13 Keith Chiwara, 12 Lethukuthula Mthethwa, 11 Lukho Jongizulu, 10 Apiwe Sidloyi, 9 Qhama Masiza, 8 Yamkela Mzozoyana (captain), 7 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 6 Lukhanyiso Tosholwana, 5 Lungelo Rintsana, 4 Intle Mancoko, 3 Sibabalo Mnkani, 2 Mkonto Caku-Caku, 1 Anele Nkohla.
Replacements: 16 Langalethu Susela, 17 Moeketsi Tuswa, 18 Samkelo Ntshulane, 19 Ayabulela Xhosana, 20 Avuzwa Noko, 21 Lwazi Madiba, 22 Merlin du Plessis, 23 Lilitha Mdladlana.

TUT Vikings: 15 Aya Koza, 14 Franco Stassen, 13 Vuyani Vanqa, 12 Dieter Groenewald, 11 Wanga Shumi, 10 Lusanda Xakwana, 9 Ethan Wilson, 8 Handru Horn, 7 Laro Delport, 6 Phuzukuvela Sithole, 5 Arrie O’Neill (c), 4 Kazadi Mukendi, 3 GB Mokone, 2 Majozi Kwinda, 1 Ruhan Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Thabang Malone, 17 Heirich Zhander, 18 Shakes Masuku, 19 Nyakallo Masitha, 20 Francois de Villiers, 21 Pro Thusi, 22 Erwee Robberzte, 23 Mikey Jacobs.

WSU 32 (15) UKZN IMPI 31 (24)

WSU scored a 79th-minute converted try to snatch a dramatic win against UKZN.

The Impi led 17-3 after 21 minutes and 31-22 after 51, but WSU dominated the final quarter and were rewarded when flyhalf Lwandile Mapuko scored their fourth try and captain Litha Nkula kicked the match-winning conversion.

UKZN had won the last two encounters between the teams, so the pressure was on WSU coming into this Round Two clash.

Flank Menzi Mabaso scored an early try for the Impi and, in the 14th minute, flyhalf Azakhile Afrika won a turnover which led to a five-pointer for lock Heinrich Cronjé.

Whatever was said to WSU during the strategy break was exactly what they needed to hear as centre Scelo Tole and Mapuko scored tries to reduce the deficit to two.

UKZN responded with a converted try to hooker Tristan Trollip that gave them a 24-15 lead at half-time.

WSU impressed at the line-outs and after a good take from lock Hloma Payi, centre Yamkela Nyebe crept in right under the posts.

No.8 Llawden Roux then scored a converted try from a powerful Impi scrum to make it 31-22.

But Nkula’s penalty got WSU back within striking range and with two minutes remaining, a poor clearance kick from UKZN allowed them to attack from inside their half.

They made it count, with Mapuko scoring the match-winner.

Player that Rocks: Sibongile Novuka (UKZN)

The scorers:

For WSU:
Tries: Tole, Mapuko 2, Nyembe
Cons: Litha Nkula 3
Pens: Nkula 2

For UKZN Impi:
Tries: Mabaso, Cronjé, Trollip, Roux
Cons: Novuka 4
Pens: Novuka

Teams:

WSU: 15 Litha Nkula (captain), 14 Soyama Mini, 13 Scelo Tole, 12 Yamkela Nyembe, 11 Tebogo Madigoe, 10 Lwandile Mapuko, 9 Eric Mcaphukana, 8 Esethu Zenani, 7 Ayabulela Zono, 6 Siphosihle Magawu, 5 Hlomla Payi, 4 Asekho Marubelela, 3 Lindokuhle Seteni, 2 Nande Lucas, 1 Xolani Jacobs.
Replacements: 16 Zanokuhle Nkabi, 17 Siyasanga Dingezweni, 18 Xongani Ngobeni, 19 Adri Kermis, 20 Lithemba Ngcetane, 21 Lisolethu Valisi, 22 Sakhele Ngeno, 23 S’bulelo ​Roji.

UKZN Impi: 15 Sibongile Novuka, 14 Onke Jiba, 13 Wandile Shabangu (c), 12 Gacula Poswa, 11 Sibonakaliso Dubazane, 10 Azakhiwe Afrika, 9 Johan Maritz, 8 Llawdden Roux, 7 Menzi Mabaso, 6 Byron Booysen, 5 Marnus Botha, 4 Heinrich Cronjé, 3 Minenhle Ngubane, 2 Tristan Trollip, 1 Lindelwe Cele.
Replacements: 16 Bambolunye Dlamini, 17 Benjamin Maseko, 18 Muzomuhle Ncanana, 19 Nkanyesi Gumede, 20 Charl Cuttings, 21 Jodian de Vos, 22 Linamkele Mcwabeni, 23 Luyanda Zondi.