UCT win in Stellenbosch
The Ikey Tigers bounced back from last week’s loss to SK Walmers by claiming a well-deserved 33-20 WP Super League victory over a tough Victorians team in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.
The visitors were made to fight hard for their win and, in fact, the Ikeys were 16-17 down going into the final quarter before tries by replacements Justin Bijl and Ashley Wells secured the victory.
Earlier, USA international JJ Gagiano had scored UCT’s first try as the visitors racked up a useful 16-0 lead – only for Vics to fight back strongly through a 17-point haul, including three well-taken tries.
Flyhalf Ollie Braithwaite, in his first start at No.10 for the UCT First XV, converted all of his team’s tries and also added four penalties to cap off a fine individual performance for an Ikeys team missing a host of first team players – either through representative call-ups or injuries.
Fit-again centre Tim Whitehead started the match for UCT, but was subbed after 60 minutes in order to take his place on the SA Universities bench just a few minutes later (three UCT players started that game), whilst replacement midfielder Andre Coetzer played the final 20 minutes before going on to start a match for the UCT Eagles, who, unfortunately, went down to their Stellenbosch opponents.
The Ikeys will be in action again this weekend when they host English club Saracens in first and second team fixtures at the Green Mile.
Friday’s two matches – against one of Europe’s biggest clubs – will kick-off at 6.30pm (second team) and 8pm (first team), respectively.
UCT’s scorers:
Tries: Gagiano, Bijl, Wells
Cons: Braithwaite 3
Pens: Braithwaite 4
The UCT team: 15 Dave Clayton, 14 Dane Johnson, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Sean van Tonder, 11 Rob Hopwood, 10 Ollie Braithwaite, 9 JP Robert (vice-captain), 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 Craig Kleu, 6 Enoch Panya, 5 Michael Passaportis, 4 Bodo Sieber (captain), 3 Herbie Mayosi, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 Dylan Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Dayne Jans, 17 Ashley Wells, 18 Shane Meier, 19 Don Armand, 20 Nick Fenton-Wells, 21 Justin Bijl, 22 Andre Coetzer.
