Shimlas stay alive after Bloem battle
FNB Shimlas kept their 2010 semifinals hopes alive with a 37-31 win over TUT on Monday night in an FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International match.
This win, at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein, puts Shimlas fourth on the log, while it’s the end of the road for the Vikings’ slim chances they had of making the Top Four.
The score looks closer than it actually was, as TUT scored two tries in the final 10 minutes when Shimlas stopped playing as the match was already in the bag at 37-19.
The visitors were first on the board in the 10th minute when Jaco Oosthuizen, the TUT flyhalf, kicked his first of four penalties. It was, however, cancelled out just two minutes later by Reinhardt Erwee (Shimlas fullback) who registered his first point of the competition.
Oosthuizen made it two from two in the 20th minute for a 6-0 lead.
Then seconds after the water break Hanno Pieterse, impressive flanker of Shimlas who was named the Player that Rocks, dived over after a series of pick-up-and-drives. The try was necessary, too, as the Men in Blue turned a penalty in front of the posts down to rather search for the five points. Erwee converted to make it 10-6 for Shimlas.
A converted try by Oosthuizen put the visitors back in the lead (13-10) before he stretched it to 16-10 with another pin-point penalty goal.
But it was the Shimlas that went into half-time in front 17-16 with a nice worked try by left-wing Beast Ndwandwa. After a few phases on the Vikings’ line, Ndwandwa ran a perfect angle on Jaco Colyn’s (flyhalf) left shoulder and received a pop pass to go over.
The home team had an ideal start to the second 40 minutes when lock Joubert Horn scored their third try shortly after the break. However, Oosthuizen – again – reduced the deficit to five points (19-24) with his fourth penalty goal.
Erwee had a chance to draw three points back, but his attempt went right passed the upright.
But that kept Shimlas in TUT’s half and in the 50th minute came the try of the match. Earl Snyman (No.13) beat his direct opponent on the outside and nearly made it for the left-hand corner.
His back-flip pass found Erwee who in return also did well to stay in the field of play with captain Wayne Stevens on hand to fall over to score the very important bonus point try.
That clearly gave Shimlas a confident boost and it took plenty of pressure of their shoulders with that bonus point in the bag. Two further Erwee penalties sealed the match for the Shimlas.
But it was the students from Tshwane that had the last say with Oosthuizen and Simphiwe Mtkulu (No.13) scoring each. But it was too little, too late as they stay winless after round five.
The scorers:
For FNB Shimlas:
Tries: Pieterse, Ndwandwa, Horn, Stevens
Cons: Erwee 4
Pens: Erwee 3
For FNB Vikings:
Tries: Oosthuizen 2, Mtkulu
Cons: Oosthuizen 2
DGs: Oosthuizen 4
The teams:
Shimlas: 15 Reinhardt Erwee, 14 Divandré Strydom, 13 Earl Snyman, 12 Wayne Stevens (captain), 11 Beast Ndwandwa, 10 Jaco Colyn, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Chris Dry, 6 Hanno Pieterse, 5 Wilken Heyns, 4 Joubert Horn, 3 Ian Potgieter, 2 Hans Grobler, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Gert Erasmus, 17 James Hellawell, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Sybrand Mostert, 20 Marlin Ruiters, 21 Johan van Schalkwyk, 22 Rashied Isaacs, 23 Johnny Harris.
TUT Vikings: 15 Hansie Graaff, 14 Johan Swartz, 13 Simphiwe Mtkulu, 12 Lutho Nyeka, 11 Thabo Motau, 10 Jaco Oosthuizen, 9 Manny Raposo, 8 Wikus Botes, 7 Emile Verster (captain), 6 Vincent Gwavu, 5 Werner Lourens, 4 Johan Steenkamp, 3 Braam van der Merwe, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Juan Pike.
Replacements: 16 Alfred Khoza, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Athi Mtya, 19 Ryno Lopes, 20 Theunis Schoeman, 21 Adilo Courtiers, 22 Ruan van Loo, 23 Marco van Deventer.
Referee: Dilbert November
By Ruan Bruwer
