UJ under pressure

FNB UJ will be under pressure to qualify for the semifinals of the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, after going down 9-19 to FNB Pukke on Monday evening.

FNB Pukke used their opportunities and scored one try in the first and two in the second half, but it was a game won by their pack of forwards.

UJ opened the scoring after dominating the opening exchanges when flyhalf Andre Smith kicked a penalty after an illegal tackle. Puk had an opportunity to equalise, but Cecil Dumont’s kick from 45 metres out hit the upright.

Smith missed another opportunity to stretch the lead and last week’s hero, Trekker van Tonder, fumbled the ball after neat interplay between Haas Snyman and Earl Lewis.

A brilliant solo-effort by right-winger Andrew van Wyk gave Puk the lead for the first time after left-wing Randall April carried the ball for more than half of the field. Dumont converted from the touchline.

Flanker Jaco Lotter ran the ball back from the kick-off to unleash fullback Willem Barnard and when he was held up, Dumont failed with another penalty attempt.

Smith missed another long-range attempt and he had to wait nearly 20 minutes to narrow the gap to one point with a similar attempt.

The teams changed sides with the Puk holding a narrow 7-6 lead. After the break Earl Lewis threatened the defence more than once and then Dumont missed his third penalty attempt.

There was no love lost among the forwards and they had a full go at each before flanker Jaco Lotter drove over from a lineout five metres out after a UJ player was penalised for kicking an opponent on the ground.

Smith brought UJ back into range with a left-footed drop-goal, but Wentsley Scott put the matter beyond doubt when he scored in the corner after UJ tried to play rugby in the own 22 under severe pressure.

The scorers:

For FNB Puk:
Tries: Van Wyk, Lotter, Scott
Con: Dumont 2

FNB UJ:
Pen: Smith 2
DG: Smith

The teams:

UJ: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Edrich van Tonder, 13 Clinton de Klerk, 12 JJ Pienaar, 11 Oscar Mfundisi, 10 Andre Smit, 9 Jaco ‘Haas’ Snyman, 8 Torrie Meyer, 7 Hennie Killian, 6 Frikkie Maartens, 5 Andries Nel, 4 Rob Andrew, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Neil Visagie (captain), 1 Wayne Swart.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Ryno Bosman, 18 Martyn Lombard, 19 Julian Erasmus, 20 Bakkies van Zyl, 21 Arno Coetzee, 22 Itumeleng Mogotsi.

Pukke: 15 Willem Barnard, 14 Randall April, 13 Wenstley Scott, 12 Wouter Watermeyer, 11 Andrew van Wyk, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Andries Mahoney, 8 Willem van der Wal (captain), 7 Francois Robbertse, 6 Jaco Lotter, 5 Markus Fourie, 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Stoffel Duvenhage, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 Lourens Botes, 17 Dewald Coetzee, 18 Victor Kruger, 19 Thabo Molete, 20 Theuns Kotzé, 21 Dewan Eckard, 22 Lola Waka.

SAPA