Tuks secure play-off spot
FNB Tuks booked their place in the Varsity Cup semifinals after handing FNB Maties their first loss of the season with a 25-23 victory at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.
While Maties were guaranteed a spot in the semifinals of this year’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, Tuks had to win this match to confirm their place in the play-offs.
The visitors outscored Maties three tries to two but they were let of the hook as Maties captain Wesley Wilkins dropped an easy pass in the dying minutes which should have been the match-winning score.
Maties got off to a great start, with centre Jean Stemmet scoring with his first touch of the ball after a sniping break by scrumhalf Donald Stevens. Stevens converted to put the defending champions 7-0 ahead with less than two minutes gone.
Tuks hit back thorough a Marnitz Boshoff penalty but Stevens replied with one of his own to restore Maties’ seven-point lead before adding another three points midway thorough the first-half.
Maties produced a few more scoring opportunities but they were let down by poor handling. However, Tuks capitalised on it as burly prop Jacques Botha crashed over just before the break. Boshoff slotted the easy extras to reduce the deficit to three points but Maties’ points machine, Stevens, slotted a 50-metre penalty to make it 16-10.
Tuks had the final say in the first half, as wing Kruger van Heerden showed great pace to run around his opposite number to score in the corner to make it a one-point game at the break.
Van Heerden’s score meant that Tuks started the second half with their tails up but points-machine Stevens was in action again as he crossed the whitewash five minutes into the second half. Adnaan Osman took over the kicking duties and converted Stevens’ try to make it 23-15 to the hosts.
Just as Maties seemed to have kicked up a gear, Boshoff kept Tukkies in the game with a penalty before hooker Henry Bantjes steam-rolled his way over the tryline for Tuks’ third try.
Boshoff added the conversion to give his team a 25-23 lead heading into the last quarter of the match.
With just two minutes remaining in the match, Maties centre Dabeon Draghoender broke through the Tuks midfield and was on his way to score the match-wining try. Wilkins – who earlier spent 10 minutes in the sin bin – was on hand to collect the pass to run in unopposed but he spilled the ball with the tryline beckoning.
Tuks were not off the hook yet as Maties were awarded a penalty seconds later but Stevens’ attempt shaved the uprights which caused delight among the visitors, as they booked their place in next week’s semi-finals.
The scorers:
For Maties:
Tries: Stemmet, Stevens
Cons: Stevens, Osman
Pens: Stevens 3
For Tuks:
Tries: Botha, van Heerden, Bantjes
Cons: Boshoff 2
Pens: Boshoff 2
The teams:
FNB Maties: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Wilhelm Loock, 13 Jéan Stemmet, 12 Dabeon Draghoender, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Jason de Villiers, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Cameron Peverett, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Wesley Wilkins (captain), 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Erich Laubscher, 3 Andrew Crausaz, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 Michael Lockyer, 17 Jean Rossouw, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Morné Hanekom, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Johan Sadie, 22 Lwellyn Winkler.
FNB Tuks: 15 Shaun Davids, 14 Kruger van Heerden, 13 Luvuyo Mhlobiso, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Christian van den Berg, 8 Daniel Nicholls, 7 Tendayi Chikukwa, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 Peet Botma, 4 Johan de Bruin (captain), 3 Jacques Botha, 2 Henry Bantjes, 1 Ettienne Breytenbach.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Duncan Naude, 19 Willie Nel, 20 Ignick Windvogel, 21 Jaco Oosthuizen, 22 Clayton Blommetjies.
Referee: Stuart Berry
