Tuks run amok, Madibaz remains unbeaten

ROUND FOUR WRAP: The experience of UP-Tuks proved too much for debutants Varsity College in their Round Four encounter of the Varsity Shield competition.

Madibaz maintained their unbeaten streak with a hard-fought victory over WSU while UKZN and UFH scored their first victories when they respectively beat TUT and CPUT.

UP-TUKS 75 -21 VARSITY COLLEGE

All eyes were on Pretoria for the much-anticipated top-of-the-log clash between UP-Tuks and Varsity College but in the end, the former Varsity Cup champions ran in 11 tries to thoroughly beat the debutants 75-21.

The home side were the first to open the scoreboard through wing Bayanda Ngubane who crossed over in the corner. The visitors responded with back-to-back tries through Jacques Theron du Toit Marais and Abanda Mthembu to take a 14-7 lead.

Tries from No. 8 Marco Venter and skipper Ethan Burger secured Tuks a bonus point. The Striped Generation’s forwards continued their dominance when Henry Till added another five-pointer on the stroke of halftime. Tuks flyhalf Jean Pierre Wentzel made no mistake from the tee converting all of Tuks’ tries to give the Pretoria outfit a healthy 35-14 lead at the break.

The home side picked up where they left off when Till completed his brace when the players returned to the field.

Tuks were reduced to 14 men when captain Ethan Burger was sent to the sin bin.

Chad-Lee Valentine made it try number seven for Tuks before Varsity College registered their third through Mbasa Nkonki.

Tuks’ party continued in the one-sided affair as tries by Cayno February, Dillon Smith, Kamohelo Tlome and Jacobus Louw pushed the scoreline to 75.

Wentzel missed only one of his eight conversions and this clinical kicking performance earned him the Player That Rocks award. Kyle Cyster was successful with his three conversions.

SCORERS

For UP-Tuks:
Tries: Bayanda Ngubane, Marco Venter, Johannes Marè, Ethan Burger, Henry Till 2, Chad-Lee Valentine, Cayno February, Dillon Smith, Kamohelo Tlome, Jacobus Louw
Cons: Jean-Pierre Wentzel 7, Kyle Cyster 3

For Varsity College:
Tries: Jacques Theron du Toit Marais, Abande Mpumelelo Mthembu, Mbasi Nkonki.
Cons: Frederick Marx 3

Player That Rocks: Jean-Pierre Wentzel (UP-Tuks)

UP-Tuks: 15 Tharquinn Thane Manuel, 14 Bayanda Ngubane Ngubane, 13 Zander Reynders, 12 Keane Romaine Galant, 11 Nqubeko Sbongakonke Mkwanazi, 10 Jean-Pierre Wentzel, 9 Chad-Lee Valentine, 8 Marco Venter, 7 Hilton Gie, 6 Kamohelo Tlome, 5 Cayno Douglas February, 4 Johannes Wilhelmus Marè, 3 Dian Stephan Coetzee, 2 Henry Edwin Til, Ethan Lance Burger

Varsity College: 15 Luke Christopher Horak, 14 Sivuyisiwe Mpendu, 13 Mbasa Nkonki, 12 Macmillian Zvikomborero Mudara, 11 Tshegofatso Ramaloko, 10 Frederick Nicolaas Marx, 9 Abande Mpumelelo Mthembu, 8 Juan Orde Steyl, 7 Sinelifa Mmangaliso Ncwana, 6 Thendo Eric Junior Netshidzati, 5 Werner Johan Coetzee, 4 Garren Müller, 3 Siyabonga Luyanda Dube, 2 Jacques Theron du Toit Marais, 1 Daniel Van Huizen

MADIBAZ 29 -18 WSU

Madibaz came into the fixture with three out of three full of confidence, but WSU made them work hard for their 29-18 victory in Gqeberha.

The visitors matched the home team up front for large parts of the game and WSU’s backline was simply electrifying at times.

WSU centre Awonke Sondishe had a stormer in the midfield and his yellow card later in the match put a huge dent in his side’s chances of springing an upset on the road.

While Madibaz led throughout, their opponents were never far behind on the scoreboard. The difference between the teams was ultimately the ability of the men from the Bay to bounce back every time WSU scored.

Flank Mzwakhe Hlupheko was massive at the breakdown and deserved all the credit that came his way.

The Gqeberha students will be happy to take the log points but will acknowledge the visitors exposed a few weaknesses they will need to work on in the coming weeks.

SCORERS

For Madibaz:
Tries: Penalty try, Janco van der Walt, Ourin Cupido, Tlhalefo Moleko.
Cons: Kehan Myburgh 2
Pens: Kehan Myburgh.

For WSU:
Tries: Sinethemba Zwelonke, Simthembile Zozi. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen.
Pens: Maxwell Klaasen 2

Player That Rocks: Mzwakhe Hlupheko (Madibaz)

Teams:

Madibaz: 15 Bryce Sven Collins, 14 Qurin Cupido, 13 Janco Albert van der Walt, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Kehan Myburgh, 10 Raashied Conrad, 9 Mpumelelo Solani Mavuso, 8 Leon van der Merwe, 7 De Wet Goedhals, 6 Mzwakhe Kevin Hlupheko, 5 Mekyle Recodin Solomon, 4 Dewald Gerber, 3 Andries Johannes Flemming, 2 Kyle Erasmus, 1 Endinako Kuse

WSU: 15 Lukhangele Tshayi, 14 Beon Frendel Hartnick, 13 Awonke Sondishe, 12 Hlumelo Zitha, 11 Bulelani Amyoli Nondlwana, 10 Maxwell Curtley Klaasen, 9 Thembela Folo, 8 Esethu Zenani, 7 Pernell Mervian Mandes, 6 Sibulele Manyube, 5 Hlomla Mihlali Payi, 4 Kamva Tetani, 3 Ayabonga Masivuye Spelt, 2 Mangaliso Zixesha, 1 Sinethemba Zwelonke

UKZN 41 -5 TUT

UKZN overcame a slow first half to score their first win of the competition when they beat TUT 41-5 in Durban.

It was the home team who made their early pressure pay off after a strong driving maul was finished off by hooker Sikhona Ndulini who dove over for an unconverted try. TUT were quick to respond when Kgomotso Maribana fought his way over the try line past a stubborn defence.

The visitors tried to find their way through, but the Impis’ defence denied them time after time. With their superb defending and clean kicking from Khanya Kama who added two penalties, the home team took an 11-5 lead at half-time.

After the break, UKZN returned to the field in high spirits as Siso France finished off a perfect team to add his name to the try scorers.

It was the Kama show as he added two more penalties, converted Tino Mazindhu’s try and thereafter got a try of his own that he converted. It was a convincing bonus-point victory for UKZN.

SCORERS

For UKZN:
Tries: Sikhona Ndulini, Siso France, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Khanya Kama.
Cons: Khanya Kama 3
Pens: Khanya Kama 5

For TUT:
Try: Kgomotso Maribana

Player That Rocks: Khanya Kama (UKZN)

Teams:

UKZN: Benjamin Maseko, Sikhona Cebolenkosi Ndulini, Ulrich Cameron Walker, Wilhelm Fenske, Nhlakanipho Ntando Hleloluhle Mathonsi, Wela-Aphumele Mnata Takata, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Siphesihle Dlamini, Thando Sphesihle Cele, Khanya Junior Kama, Thato Tshepang Matsoso, Siso France, Singele Mkhize, Jarryd Nicholls, Cham Zondeki.

TUT: 15 Ayabonga Thokozani Zakwe, 14 Vuyani Vanqa, 13 Mauritz Maritz, 12 Josh Sandile Robinson, 11 Shandon Manuel Botha, 10 Mihlali Sipho Bam, 9 Buhlebuyeza Sthandwa Tebogo Ndunakazi, 8 Kgomotso Samuel Chuene Maribana, 7 Knowledge Chaira, 6 Ajay Lottering, 5 Thato Mopedi, 4 Lwazi Lwandile Dlamini, 3 Lawrence Nong, 2 Jandre van Zyl, 1 Mxolisi Innocent Nzama

UFH 22 -17 CPUT

UFH scored their first victory of the competition and got out of the last position on the log when they beat CPUT 22-17 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.

It only took seven minutes for the home team to crack through the opposition’s defence when prop

Bulela Magopeni crossed over for a try that was duly converted by flyhalf Aphiwe Sidloyi.

Twenty minutes later the Blues doubled their score through the combination of scrumhalf Sinalo Jivana’s try and Sidloy’s conversion. The former champions piled on the pressure resulting in a try for lock Singa Nqotyana and UFH headed into the break 19-0 in the lead.

Sidloyi added the first points of the second half to the scoreboard with a penalty for the Blues.

CPUT finally got off the mark when Danielle Padiachy got one back for the Cape side. Keewan Titus added the extra two points.

Titus slotted a three-pointer as the visitors started to gain momentum with fewer errors in their general gameplay. The comeback was well and truly on when Padiachy got his brace and Titus converted to close the gap to just five points.

The first half onslaught by UFH in the end however proved a bridge too far and CPUT had to settle for the loss.

SCORERS

For UFH:
Tries: Bulela Magopeni, Sinalo Jivana, Singa Nqotyana.
Cons: Apiwe Sidloyi 2
Pens: Apiwe Sidloyi

For CPUT:
Tries: Danielle Padiachy 2
Cons: Keewan Titus 2
Pen: Keewan Titus

Player That Rocks: Apiwe Sidloyi (FUFH)

CPUT: 15 Keene Munnick, 14 Danielle Israel Padiachy, 13 Iwaan Bloys, 12 Timothy Matthew Shortles, 11 Keenan Williams, 10 Keewan Titus, 9 Jayson January, 8 Ayabulela Zono, 7 Lwando Woji, 6 Duke Somila Shasha, 5 Keanan Benjamin Odwa Rolosi, 4 Ntsako Ashley Mhlanga, 3 Kieran Delaan Naidoo, 2 Kéran Jayson Valentyn, 1 Emihle Akho Benya

UFH: 15 Cyril Mphatsoe, 14 Bulumko Mfundisi, 13 Lakheni Majali, 12 Ryan Kelly Maree, 11 Okuhle Pangwa, 10 Apiwe Sidloyi, 9 Sinalo Jivana, 8 Yanga Gazi, 7 Kamvelihle Gcweka, 6 Anda Simanga, 5 Cinga Nqotyana, 4 Mpho Kensly Jnr Ramahala, 3 Bulela Magopeni, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 1 Mesuli Sinovuyo Samkele Nzima

The log after Round Three: