Wits advance to Shield Final

It took both teams some time to get going in this game with the first points coming via a drop goal by Wits flyhalf Warren Gilbert in the 16 minute.

The team from Johannesburg then extended their lead just before the first strategy break when wing Siselo Champion scored a try under the polls.

Wits went further in front right after the strategy break when centre Joshua Jarvis scoring. Gilbert converted and Wits were leading 18-0 halfway through the first half.

Jarvis then scored his second try of the game five minutes to extend the lead to 23 points.

UWC finally got their first points of the game a few minutes later when Wayne Losper crossed over for a try.

Wits the finished the half on a high when centre Wade Worthington scoring try with Gilbert converting to give the Johannesburg team a 26-point lead going into the break.

It was more of the same in the second half with Worthington and CJ Conradie scoring tries as Wits raced to a 44-5 lead before the 60th minute.

UWC got a try back through Jose Julies, but Wit added another two tries through Kwanele Ngema and Warren Gilbert to seal a convincing win.

The scorers:

For UWC:

Tries: Losper, Julies

Cons: Cupido

For Wits:

Tries: Champion, Jarvis 2, Worthington, Ngema, Gilbert

Cons: Gilbert 5

DG: Gilbert

Teams:

UWC: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Minenhle Mthethwa, 13 Dean Herbert, 12 Lubabalo Faleni, 11 Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Matthew Faught, 7 Matthew le Roux, 6 Philbrey Joseph, 5 Brandon Valentyn, 4 Jose Julies, 3 Tahriq Allen, 2 Peter Wanjiru, 1 Kelvin de Bruyn.

Replacements: 16 Keenan Douw, 17 Wayron Losper, 18 Jeremy Papier, 19 Sabelo Dlamini, 20 Jason Marcus, 21 Courtney Cupido, 22 Marcus Kleinbooi, 23 Robin Paulse.

Wits: 15 Luxolo Ntsepe, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Joshua Jarvis, 12 Wade Worthington, 11 Sicelo Champion, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Constant Beckerling, 7 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt, 6 Ruan MacDonald, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Cecil Conradie, 1 Tijde Visser.

Replacements: 16 Craig Hume, 17 Ayabulela Mdudi, 18 Mitchell Fraser, 19 Richard Crossman, 20 Kyle Wesemann, 21 Adriaan van Blerk, 22 Thato Marubela, 23 Brandon Palmer.

Referee: Jaco Pretorius