UJ in Potchefstroom upset
The real University of Johannesburg (UJ) stood up to counted as they brought the NWU-Pukke down to earth with a bang; earning valuable Varsity Cup and Pirates Grand Challenge points with their upset 23-22 victory on Monday night.
The scoreline shows it was close, but apart from the opening quarter during which Pukke scored two tries by applying the pressure, the visitors from Johannesburg were the better team on the night.
FNB UJ, who have failed to reach their full potential in the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup tournaments, had something to prove and they did it in grand style, playing with guts and determination, while the Puk again flattered to deceive.
Two tries by UJ’s SA Under-19 right-winger, Bernado Botha, turned a 0-12 deficit into a 15-12 lead at the break.
The Player that Rocks (the Man of the Match!) Edgar Marutlulle, a former Puk who had something to prove, terrorised the home side by nearly scoring with a long run down the touchline as the visitors had their tails up after the break.
Pukke only got to grips with their opponents when they subbed captain Dirco ‘The I specialist’ Rautenbach with the more physical Edwin Hewitt, who immediately made his presence felt and scored a try after a five-metre drive from a lineout to bring the Puk within a point of the visitors.
But in the end, a neat drop-goal by UJ flyhalf Ryno Luus – who replaced André Smith at pivot for this match – proved to be the winner and the scoreline was a bridge too far for the home side; who, of course, lost in last year’s Varsity Cup Final to the FNB Maties.
The Puk will have to take a long hard look at themselves and perhaps appoint fullback Worsie Kotze to lead the troops from the trenches.
Marutlulle, meanwhile was brilliant; often running like a back, stealing Pukke ball at the breakdown and taking two tightheads with a retreating scrum in the second half.
But hats off to another former Puk, winger Lola Waka, who proved to be a finisher of real quality when he scored a crucial try in the second half.
The scorers:
For FNB NWU-Pukke:
Tries: Van Wyk, N Jacobs, Hewitt
Cons: Kotzé 2
Pen: Kotzé
For FNB UJ:
Tries: B Botha 2, Waka
Con: Luus
Pen: Luus
DG: Luus
The teams:
Pukke: 15 Theuns Kotzé, 14 Dane Johnson, 13 Ruan Jacobs, 12 Willem Barnard, 11 Johannes Seerane, 10 Niell Jacobs, 9 Andries Mahoney, 8 Francois Robbertse, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Jaco Lötter, 5 Markus Fourie, 4 Dirco Rautenbach (captain), 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Stoffel Duvenage, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 BW van Dyk, 17 Dewald Coetzee, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Jan Rose, 20 Wensley Scott, 21 Andrew van Wyk, 22 SP Marias, 23 Stefan Bezuidenhout.
UJ: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luhan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 Ryno Luus, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Hennie Kilian, 7 Wiehan Roos, 6 JP Janse van Rensburg, 5 Marnes van Huyssteen, 4 Martyn Lombard, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 2 KP du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 JP Olivier, 18 Corné Cordier, 19 Torrie Meyer, 20 Danny Botha, 21 André Smith, 22 Aubrey McDonald, 23 Jaco Claassen.
Referee: Matt Kemp
