Shimlas on winning streak in Joburg

When the team from the University of the Free State, Shimlas, travelled to Johannesburg for the second consecutive week on the first Monday of February, they beat a local university team for the second time.

On Monday January 30, Shimlas played the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on their home ground and just managed to record a win over them (26-21). Returning a week later, they took on the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in front of their home crowd and reigned supreme, beating them 47-22 in a nine-try thriller.

The second round of the 2017 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International took place on Monday February 6.

The match started off with neither side scoring in the first ten minutes, but it was the FNB Shimlas’ continuous pressure on the home side which resulted in UJ taking the wrong decisions, although they found themselves in front with a penalty by Divan Nel. FNB Shimlas responded well and scored a seven-point try with some lovely interplay, which resulted in lock Neil Claasen scoring, but missing the resulting conversion. The score was 3-7 after 15 minutes.

It was end-to-end action as FNB UJ got a try of their own when centre Godfrey Ramaboea made use of the open space on the flank to touch down for a try. Divan Nel missed the conversion, but the match had the making of a classic encounter. FNB Shimlas executed a wonderful counter, which exposed the FNB UJ defence and centre Stephen Janse Van Rensburg dotted down for a try as FNB Shimlas were ahead again. Niel Stannard made no mistake this time with the conversion and FNB Shimlas were ahead 8-14.

They further extended the lead when fly half Neil Stannard scored a penalty and opened some daylight between them as FNB Shimlas went into the break with a 17-8 lead at half-time. FNB UJ showed more urgency at the beginning of the second half and were rewarded as eighth man Jo Hanko De Villers put the home side back into the match, with Divan Nel scoring the conversion to make it 15-17.

The match was heating up and FNB Shimlas again scored a try on the wing as Marco Mason silenced the crowd and fly half Neil Stannard scored from an acute angle to make it 15-24. FNB Shimlas were irresistible as lock Phumzile Maqondwana scored and FNB UJ were shell-shocked. Neil Stannard scored the conversion and the score was 15-33 with the away side running away with it.

Marco Mason almost put the game to bed as he scored a try and scored the conversion and FNB Shimlas were cruising at 15-40. It was game over for FNB UJ as they conceded again with FNB Shimlas scoring once again and running away with it. It was 15-47 with 15 minutes left to play. FNB Shimlas were running riot and FNB UJ didn’t have the answers as the game was turning into a humiliating defeat.

FNB UJ managed to get some points when the referee gave them a penalty try to make the score 22-47. Johann Esterhuizen scored a late try against 13 men to make the score a bit more respectable. The damage had, however, already been done as FNB Shimlas won the match 29-47.

FNB Player that Rocks: Johannes Maartens (FNB Shimlas)

FNB Maties 26 vs 14 FNB Wits

FNB Maties were made to work hard for their first victory when they beat FNB Wits 26-14 at Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night.

FNB Maties scored two quick tries at the beginning of the second half to break the FNB Wits defence, who held firm until half-time. FNB Maties held a slender 6-5 lead at the break but came out firing in the second half.

The men from Stellenbosch were dealt a massive blow in the 51st minute when flanker Janco Venter received his second yellow card of the match and, in the process, a red card. This led FNB Wits back into the match and they came into touching distance through the boot of Ruan Cloete as FNB Maties led 20-14 at the second strategy break.

Ernst Stapelberg proved to be the difference in the end as he converted two more penalties to give FNB Maties a 12-point victory.

FNB Player That Rocks: Kobus van Dyk (Maties)

The other results are:

FNB UCT-Ikeys 21 vs 12 FNB CUT

FNB NWU-Pukke 37 vs 7 FNB Madibaz

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