UJ in record romp over NMMU

The result was probably never in doubt, but the margin was the burning question. In the end the UJ produced a record 97-14 victory over the hapless NMMU outfit in Johannesburg on Monday.

Apart from the record they shattered, the UJ boys kept alive their play-off hopes in the FNB Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff International.

For the record: The 83-point winning margin is the biggest ever, beating the 62-point margin Maties achieved against TUT earlier this year; the 97 points is also the most by one team – beating the 78 Shimlas scored against TUT last year. The 14 tries by UJ is also a record.

If there was a disappointment for the home team, it is that they fell an agonising three points short of the first-ever ton in the competition’s history. But they won’t complain too loudly.

The opening five minutes saw wave after wave of orange raids on the NMMU line – producing three penalties and a formal warning.

The first try was not long in coming – hooker Edgar Marutlulle scoring from a five-metre lineout that turned into a maul. The UJ’s dominance was evident and the NMMU team – for all their energetic defence – were staring another big hiding in the face.

But they had to wait 10 minutes for the next try to come, despite camping inside the NMMU half. It was a great run by Lola Waka down the left touchline that set Marutlulle up for his second try. Both conversion attempts were wide of the mark, but the evidence was there – the visitors’ defensive lines will be stretched to the limit.

Ryno Luus, after some brilliant off-loading in the tackle, Marutlulle to complete his hat-trick, following an attack that started five metres from the UJ line, and Waka, showing his blistering pace, scored as the home team raced into a 31-0 lead inside the first half-hour.

Luus, who kicked three conversions earlier, added a 35th minute penalty, before No.8 Hennie Killian scored his team’s sixth try just before the break as the UJ forwards continued to stamp their authority on the game. Luus’ fourth conversion made it 41-0 at the break.

Waka and Marutlulle featured prominently in the build-up to the first try after the break, Waka scoring the touch-down in the 42nd minute. André Smith, on as a replacement flyhalf at half-time, took over the goal-kicking from Luus and slotted his first conversion attempt for a 48-0 lead.

Aubrey McDonald, as the score went past the half-century mark, André Smith and then McDonald again, scored as the UJ rout continued.

The ever-willing Madibas eventually managed to open their account in the 59th minute – as Christopher Juries sprinted over to break the visitors’ duck. Stefan de Klerk’s conversion made it 69-7.

However, the rout continued unabated as UJ raced towards the tournament’s first ever century – with Wiehan Roos, Brett Claassens and Earl Lewis scored, before Vuyolwethu Mazaka got another consolation score.

The rout was completed – although three points short of the ton – when Smit scored the 14th try and added his eighth conversion for an 83-point winning margin – 97-14.

The scorers:

For FNB UJ:
Tries: Marutlulle 3, Luus, Waka 2, Killian, McDonald 2, Smith 2, Roos, Claassens, Lewis
Cons: Luus 4, Smith 7, Lewis
Pen: Luus

For FNB NMMU:
Tries: Nqoro, Mazaka
Cons: Laubscher 2

Yellow cards: Mathew Lutge (NMMU, 38 – professional foul, deliberate knock-down), Samuel Borsaah (NMMU, 70 – repeated infringements).

The teams:

FNB UJ: 15 Aubrey McDonald, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luhan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 Ryno Luus, 9 Jaco ‘Haas’ Snyman, 8 Hennie Killian, 7 Wiehan Roos, 6 JP Janse van Rensburg, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Corné Cordier, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 JP Olivier, 18 Martin Lombard, 19 Quintin Minnaar, 20 Earl Lewis, 21 André Smith, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Jaco Claassen.

FNB NMMU: 15 Carl van Niekerk, 14 Christopher Juries, 13 Mlindazwe Nqoro, 12 Braam Gerber, 11 Williams Heydenrych, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Luso Booi (captain), 8 Juan-Paul Kellerman, 7 Mathew John Lutge, 6 Thomasau Forbes, 5 Kemsley Wesso, 4 Jannie Fourie, 3 Pierre Hammand, 2 Werner Kapp, 1 Tyron Williams.
Replacements: 16 Chariel van Jaarsveld, 17 Hanre Basson, 18 De Wet De Lange, 19 Samuel Borsaah, 20 Hugo van Heerden, 21 Vuyolwethu Mazaka, 22 Wade Roos, 23 Stefan De Klerk.

Referee: Matt Kemp