Shimlas made to fight for victory
FNB Shimlas were made to fight by the Crusaders but the students from Bloemfontein still managed a more-than-useful 29-13 ‘Stadsbeker’ win at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal.
Despite being made to sweat at times by the home side, Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel will be happy that his charges managed to grab a bonus point against a team containing two Cheetahs stars, fullback Bevin Fortuin and winger Eddie Fredericks.
Fortuin, who is also a Test Springbok, started the game at centre and his experience and powerful defence made a huge difference to the Crusaders midfield at the weekend.
Cheetahs try-machine Fredericks, too, was a huge threat – even scoring a try for the Crusaders – but the visitors’ Phillip van der Walt was his team’s star man.
Flanker Van der Walt defended like a trojan and carried the ball strongly, whilst other men to stand out for the Crusaders were prop Henry Geduld and livewire scrumhalf Cameron Malan.
Van der Walt also scored one of the Kovsies’ team’s four tries, with the other scores coming from Pieter van Zyl, Ruan Jacobs and Beast Ndwandwa. Niël Jacobs slotted three conversions and he also added a penalty goal.
The scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Eddie Fredericks, Garth Louw
Pen: Ashwell Rafferty
For Shimlas:
Tries: Pieter van Zyl, Phillip van der Walt, Ruan Jacobs, Beast Ndwandwa
Cons: Niël Jacobs 3
Pen: Niël Jacobs
