UJ blow UCT's hopes away
It was a big win for UJ and an even bigger defeat for UCT as they saw their play-offs hopes fade. The win means that UJ climbs temporarily into second spot on the log – depending on the Shimlas-and-Tuks' result.
UJ scored two tries while the hosts failed to register any points in the first half.
For the opening 10 minutes of the game, the visitors enjoyed all the possession but failed to make any territory as the windy conditions played a huge part in UJ's attacking options. The orange army played into the wind and was forced to keep the ball in hand inside their own 22 for more than 10 minutes.
Finally after 10 minutes, Aphiwe Dyantyi made a break and got them inside the UCT's half, however, a wayward pass got intercepted and the attack was halted.
Despite UJ's failing efforts, the hosts also struggled to use the wind to their advantage. Their only highlight came when Joel Smith produced a kick-and-chase to get them in UJ's 22, however it proved fruitless.
The first score came just after the strategy break, UJ had a scrum inside UCT's 22 and finally broke the duck. Scrumhalf Johan Esterhuizen took a quick tap-and-go from a resulting penalty and sneaked through UCT's defence for a five-point try. Divan Nel added the extras.
UCT's captain Jason Klaasen was yellow carded for being off his feet and that is when his side's trouble grew.
UJ extended their lead when Ewan Adams dived over in the corner for the first seven-pointer. Nel added the extras which made it 16-0 after 30 minutes of play.
One would have expected UCT to at least register some points, but every attack they produced was overwritten with handling errors, and the hosts had to settle for a 0-16 score at the break.
As the second half commenced UCT dominated the breakdown and had some possession. A surprising break by prop Wayrin Losper got the hosts inside UJ's 22 and consistent attack by UCT eventually got fullback Gerard Pieterse over the line for the seven-pointer.
Unlike UCT, UJ used the wind to their advantage in the second half as captain Jannes Snyman burst over the line for a five-pointer. Nel stepped up to slot over the extras, 23-7.
On the stroke of the hour mark, UJ got their bonus-point as Jo-Hanko De Villiers burst past Mapoe to score a five-pointer after a successful scrum. Nel failed to slot over the extras, however, minutes later made up for it with a successful penalty, 31-7.
Eventually, UCT managed to get out of their own half and was rewarded with a five-point try as wing Seb Roodt went over in the corner to trail 12-31 after 70 minutes.
UJ ended the game in spectacular fashion as fullback Adams switched on the gas and ran out of his own 22 with Carlisle Jordan in support. The move was rounded off with the wing Godfrey Ramaboea diving over for a seven-point try.
Nel added the extras on the stroke of full-time and secured the win.
The Scorers:
For UCT:
Tries: Pieterse, Roodt
For UJ:
Tries: Esterhuizen, Adams, Snyman, De Villiers, Ramaboea,
Cons: Nel 4
Pen: Nel
Yellow Cards: Jason Klaasen (UCT, 28), Godfrey Ramaboea (UJ,61)
UCT-Ikeys: 15 Gerard Pieterse, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 Joel Smith, 12 Hendrik Lategan, 11 Seb Roodt, 10 Rob Anderson, 9 Stefano de Gouveia, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 6
Jason Klaasen, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Replacements: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 William Day, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Sanele Malwane, 20 Luke Stringer, 21 Michael Henning, 22 Suwilanji Chibale, 23 Jez MacIntyre.
UJ: 15 Ewan Adams, 14 Ronald Brown, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Jaco Fourie, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 Divan Nel, 9 Johan Esterhuizen, 8 Jo Hanko De Villiers, 7 Wian Conradie, 6 Gavin Delport, 5 Adrian Bester, 4 Kevin Du Randt, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (captain), 1 Waldo Weideman.
Replacements: 16 Le Roux Baard, 17 Kyle Kruger, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Reinhardt Nothnagel, 20 Leon Massyn, 21 Devon Mare, 22 Carlisle Jordan, 23 Peter Walters.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
