Varsity Cup Wrap: Tukkies chalk up 100

Varsity Cup results:

FNB Tuks 100-0 FNB CUT

FNB UJ 36-28 FNB Madibaz

FNB Shimlas 12-58 FNB Maties

FNB Pukke 13-22 FNB Wits

FNB Maties tops the log on 24 points, FNB Tuks 2^nd on 19 points, FNB Shimlas 3^rd with 9 points (points difference) and FNB UJ 4^th on 16 points.

 Varsity Shield results:

FNB UFH 28-16 FNB TUT

FNB WSU 20-15 FNB CPUT

FNB UKZN 5-53 FNB UWC

FNB UWC currently tops the log with 17 pts. FNB UFH is sitting pretty with 16 pts with FNB CPUT and FNB UKZN both on 9 points.

FNB Tuks trample FNB CUT in Pretoria

FNB UP-Tuks scored 14 tries in their 100-0 (halftime 54-0) drubbing of FNB CUT Ixias in Round Six of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International at the Tuks Rugby Stadium on Monday, 6 March 2017.

The men from Pretoria set a new winning margin with their 100 nil win, surpassing the record set by FNB UJ against FNB TUT (93-0) in 2012.

It took FNB UP-Tuks a mere 6 minutes to record their first try through inside centre Joshua Stander. His try was follwed by tries to prop Neethling Fouche, a brace by wing Dewald Naude and fullback Manie Libbok, lock Brian Leitch and scrumhalf Andre Warner.

Naude and Libbok's second tries were particularly noteworthy with Naude running a perfect angle off flyhalf Tinus de Beer to score untouched while Libbok collected a perfect grubber to score a seven-point try.

World Rugby's crackdown on illegal tackles was brought to light when FNB UP-Tuks no.8 Jsuan-Re Swanepoel was shown a yellow card in the 27th minute for rolling a player by his neck.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half with Naude crossing for his hat-trick. The University of Pretoria crossed the line a further five times to end the match with 14 tries.

Inside centre Divan Rossouw showed the spirit that defines rugby when he crossed the line to score his second try but opted to allow De Beer the opportunity to get his name on the scoreboard.

The FNB Player that Rocks, Manie Libbok, showed exactly why he is a Junior Springbok when he put in a perfectly weighted cross kick that saw wing Sibahle Maxwane score his first Varsity Cup try.

It was replacement prop, Franco van den Berg, who had the last say in a one-sided match when he raced away to score three minutes after the end of regulation time. Libbok converted to bring up the magic 100.

FNB UP-Tuks travel to Bloemfontein to face FNB Shimlas next Monday. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:30.

FNB Player that Rocks: Manie Libbok (FNB UP-Tuks)

 Scorers

FNB UP-Tuks: 100
Tries: Joshua Stander, Neethling Fouche, Dewald Naude (3), Manie Libbok (2), Brian Leitch, Andre Warner, Aston Fortuin, Sibahle Maxwane, Divan Rossouw, Tinus de Beer, Franco van den Berg
Cons: Stander (4), Libbok (5)

FNB CUT: 0

 FNB UJ reign supreme in an eight-try thriller over FNB Madibaz

FNB UJ made it three wins in a row as they managed to overcome a spirited performance by FNB Madibaz as they managed to win the match 36-28 at the UJ stadium in the 2017 Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

 The home side set the tone of the match early on, as they applied relentless pressure on FNB Madibaz territory and looked likely to break the deadlock, but had to be patient with their build-up as the away side came into the game with a defensive strategy.

 FNB UJ eventually took the lead courtesy of some awful handling and butter-fingers from FNB Madibaz, as prop Nico du Plessis was gifted with one of the easiest tries he could have scored, Divan Nel slotted the conversion and it was 7-0 to the home side.

After the first strategic break FNB UJ were gaining momentum and Divan Nel converted a penalty to add another three points. FNB UJ were all over FNB Madibaz as the away side spent the majority of the half defending their try line.

 FNB UJ were playing with that swagger, and it was evident when the team touched down from a maul and prop Waldo Weideman scored FNB UJ’s second try. 

Divan Nel, as usual, made sure with the conversion and FNB UJ were 17-0. However, just on the stroke of half time FNB Madibaz managed to score a try and added some respect to the scoreline as flyhalf Thomas Kean scored a try but missed the resulting coNversion. It was 17-5 going into half time.

 The half time talk seemed to have done the trick for the FNB Madibaz team as lock Wynard Grassmann caught FNB UJ napping and made it a seven-point game as the conversion was missed, 17-10 after 45 minutes.

 The tables had turned when FNB Madibaz got their third try in succession and put themselves back in the contest launching wave after wave of attacks, and they scored courtesy of Nicholas Oosthuizen. The match remarkably turned around woth the score at 17-19, 10 minutes into the second half. Credit to the coach of FNB Madibaz, who spurred his team back into the game.

The match was turning into a thriller, as Aphiwe Dyanti stepped his way past the FNB Madibaz defence and managed to offload to scrumhalf Johan Esterhuizen to score a seven-point try and FNB UJ were ahead 26-19.

 Divan Nel scored a penalty and made it a 10-point game as FNB UJ were ahead 29-19. The nerves were finally ended when winger Godfrey Ramaboea scored the decisive try, with the conversion scored by Divan Nel to put FNB UJ comfortably ahead 36-19. However FNB Madibaz refused to go down without a fight and scored a try late on by Simon Bolze, and the conversion was successful.

The match eventually ended 36-28 to the home side.

 FNB Player that Rocks: Aphiwe Dyanti (FNB UJ)

Scorers:

FNB UJ: 36
Tries: Nico Du Plessis, Waldo Weideman, Johan Esterhuizen (seven-point), Godfrey Ramaboea
Cons: Divan Nel (4)
Pen: Divan Nel (2)

 FNB NMMU: 28

Tries: Thomas Kean, Nicholas Oosthuizen (seven-point), Wynard Grassmann, Simon Bolze (seven-point)
Cons: Thomas Kean (2)

FNB Maties slam FNB Shimlas, scoring eight tries 

FNB Maties thrashed FNB Shimlas 58-12 in the sixth round of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International in Bloemfontein on Monday night, as they played for the first time ever at the Free State Stadium, home of the Cheetahs

FNB Shimlas started the game on the wrong foot when scrumhalf Armand Pretorius was yellow-carded for not retreating 10 metres right near the FNB Shimlas tryline. FNB Maties used the opportunity and launched a backline move where winger Edwill van der Merwe scored the first try, converted by flyhalf Chris Smith, putting FNB Maties in the lead 7-0, eight minutes into the game.

FNB Maties kept the momentum and flyhalf Chris Smith scored in the corner converting his own try taking the lead to 14-0, 15 minutes in the game. Flaming FNB Maties scored a third try from the kick-off when flanker Stephan Streicher rounded off with a seven-pointer converted by Chris Smith, dominating the game 23-0 after only 18 minutes.

FNB Maties scrumhalf was yellow-carded for descent in the 20th minute of the first half. The penalty gave FNB Shimlas territorial advantage and they scored from a lineout as scrumhalf Armand Pretorius went over to put the FNB Shimlas on the scoreboard, 23-5.

Once again FNB Maties found gaps in the FNB Shimlas defence and scored their fourth try, winger Duncan Saal with a seven-pointer, converted by Chris Smith 30 minutes into the game, stretching the lead to 32-5. FNB Shimlas answered with a five-point try, after Stephan Janse Van Rensburg crossed the tryline and it was converted by Marco Mason, ending the first half 32-12 in favour of FNB Maties. 

FNB Maties dominated the first half using their opportunities with first class backline play, finding gaps in the FNB Shimlas defence. FNB Maties kept momentum and winger Edwill van der Merwe rounded off a great backline move with a five-point try, his second, in the corner, taking the game away from the FNB Shimlas with the score 37-12 just 47 minutes in.

Poor play from the FNB Shimlas allowed FNB Maties to intercept the ball deep in their 22, giving pacey winger Edwill van der Merwe an opportunity for a third try, another seven-pointer, stretching the score to 44-12. Weak defence from the FNB Shimlas handed FNB Maties an easy seventh try, as flanker Johan van Niekerk sealed the game. It was 51-12 with 10 minutes remaining.

FNB Maties ended the game off in style in the last minute scoring their eighth through fullback Craig Barry, converted by Reinhardt Fortuin and sealing the game 58-12. FNB Maties’ four seven-pointers is testimony to their excellent backline play, supported by quality ball possession from the forwards. 

FNB Shimlas clearly didn’t pitch up for the game and didn’t play well in all phases of the game. The injuries of both FNB Shimlas flyhalves definitely crippled the FNB Shimlas. And it is clear that FNB Maties is the team to beat in the Varsity Cup this year.

Player that Rocks:  Edwill Van der Merwe (FNB Maties)

Scores
FNB Shimlas: 12
Tries: Armand Pretorius (five-pointer), Stephan Janse Van Rensburg (five-pointer)

Cons: Marco Mason (1)

Yellow cards: Armand Pretorius

FNB Maties: 58

Tries: Edwill Van der Merwe (five-pointer X2, seven-pointer), Chris Smith (five-pointer), Stephan Streicher (seven-pointer), Duncan Saal (seven-pointer), Johan Van Niekerk (seven-pointer), Craig Barry (five-pointer)
Cons: Chris Smit (4), Reinhardt Fortuin (1)

Yellow cards: Brendon Nell

 Big win for FNB Wits left FNB NWU-Pukke with sore wounds

 The FNB Wits came with one goal and that was to put their sharpest performance in against the defending champions, the FNB NWU-Pukke. The visitors claimed bragging rights with a final score of 22-13 in Round Six of this year’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

 It was the FNB NWU-Pukke’s hooker Louis van der Westhuizen who opened the scoreboard for the home team with a corner try, but Julian Delicado’s kicking boot was unsuccessful and could only put them on 5-0. Van der Westhuizen received a yellow card to leave his team with 14 men on the field.

But flyhalf Gianni Lombard from the FNB Wits showed a classy comeback performance to put the visitors in the lead 7-5 in the 21st minute of the clash. Lombard converted his own try successfully.

With Delicado struggling to get rhythm with his boot, he finally managed to kick a penalty through the poles to turn the match in the favour of his side, 8-7 in the 26th minute.

 The tall Marno Redelinghuys set up a try for FNB NWU-Pukke’s Jimmy Mpailane as they took the lead into halftime 13-7 up on the board.

It was the left flanker, Constant Beckerling, who narrowed the gap between the two sides as he stumbled over the try line for FNB Wits to put them one point behind 13-12. Lombard missed a difficult conversion.

FNB NWU-Pukke lacked yet again on their discipline area as the replacement hooker Wilmar Arnoldi had been yellow carded for a high and dangerous tackle to give Lombard a penalty opportunity to put his team in the lead 15-13 up against the defending champions.

It was Manuel Rass from FNB Wits who took the game away from FNB NWU-Pukke as he went over for a seven-point try to give his team a substantial lead. FNB Wits left the field with a victory of 22-13 over the defending champions as they left with the bragging rights. The FNB NWU-Pukke faced their second consecutive defeat.

 FNB Player that rocks:  Constant Beckerling (FNB Wits)

 Scores

FNB NWU-Pukke: 13
Tries: Louis van der Westhuizen (five-pointer), Jimmy Mpailane (five-pointer)
Penalties: Julian Delicado (1)

Yellow Card: Louis van der Westhuizen, Wilmar Arnold

 FNB Wits: 22

Tries: Gianni Lombard (five-pointer), Constant Beckerling (five- pointer), Manuel Rass (five-pointer)
Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2)
Penalties: Gianni Lombard (1)
About Varsity Cup

The FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International celebrates ten years of rocking rugby. The university rugby competition continues to entertain the entire nation. Unique match-day competitions bring the fans closer to the game through exciting, innovative and entertaining activations. Nine of the country’s top universities do battle over eleven weeks for the coveted Varsity Cup title. Varsity Cup is proudly sponsored by FNB, Steinhoff International and Steers.