UJ hold on in the rain
In a FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International match of varying fortunes, and many handling errors due to incessant rain, UJ kept alive their chances of a Varsity Cup semifinal spot when they beat visitors Tukkies 9-3.
The win now places UJ on 13 league points with one final match against NMMU waiting, whilst Tukkies – on 16 points – have to play unbeaten Maties in Stellenbosch next weekend in the final round of the competition.
Tukkies – who were far from impressive in the first-half, but greatly improved after the break – could have stolen the match but for five missed penalties in a match that started in a drizzle which became a real downpour in the first half and which then subsided into a steady rain after the break.
They also came close to scoring in the last five minutes when they hammered away at the UJ line without success.
UJ dominated the first half, spending long periods in the Tukkies half. The home side was quicker to the breakdown, used their possession well and threatened on a number of occasions without rounding off.
Tukkies, on the other hand, were playing crisis rugby, making a number of saves and receiving the ball on their heels.
UJ took the lead with a penalty by flyhalf Arno Coetzee after ten minutes, and he followed this up with another two minutes later. They held this lead until just before the break, when Marnitz Boshoff pulled three points back from a rare Tukkies visit into UJ territory.
Seven minutes before the break UJ went over, but were pulled back after a penalty infringement under the visitors’ posts.
The two wet teams went into the break with UJ deservedly ahead, but the margin of 6-3 did not reflect their first-half dominance.
UJ’s Coetzee missed a sitter shortly after the restart, and the elements seemed to get the better of both sides with handling errors abounding.
UJ fullback Earl Lewis slotted a penalty after 58 minutes while Boshoff missed his third penalty immediately after and two minutes later Tukkies scrumhalf Christiaan van den Berg drew one to the right.
Tukkies – whose forwards were more competitive after the break and dominated the last quarter – simply did not use their opportunities.
They came close when captain Johan de Bruin was on the wrong end of a TMO decision, and then they had phase after phase before turning the ball, just to win back the ball and drop a pass with a man over for the home side to take the spoils.
The scorers:
For UJ:
Pens: Coetzee 2, Lewis
For Tuks:
Pen: Boshoff
The teams:
FNB UJ: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Edrich van Tonder, 13 Clinton de Klerk, 12 JJ Pienaar, 11 Itumeleng Mogotsi, 10 Arno Coetzee, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Hennie Killian, 7 Julian Erasmus, 6 Johan van Deventer, 5 Andries Nel (captain), 4 Rob Andrew, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Wayne Swart.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ryno Bosman, 18 Martyn Lombard, 19 Torrie Meyer, 20 Bakkies van Zyl, 21 André Smith, 22 Oscar Mfundisi.
FNB Tuks: 15 Shaun Davids, 14 Luvuyo Mhlobiso, 13 Gerhard van der Merwe, 12 Jaco Oosthuizen, 11 Tom Seabela, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Christian van den Berg, 8 Willie Nel, 7 Devin Oosthuizen, 6 Gert Lubbe, 5 Peet Botma, 4 Johan de Bruin (captain), 3 Peet Vorster, 2 Henry Bantjes, 1 Ettienne Breytenbach.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Jacques Botha, 18 Duncan Naude, 19 Marnus Schoeman, 20 Ignick Windvogel, 21 Kruger van Heerden, 22 Lutho Nyeka.
