Wits, UJ record wins in Varsity Cup
FNB Wits romped to a 51-12 bonus-point win against FNB UWC in Johannesburg on March 21 to move out of the relegation zone.
Several teams face a fight for survival in the latter stages of this year’s competition.
At the end of the season, the two lowest-ranked sides on the combined 2021/22 log will be relegated to the FNB Varsity Shield. Wits will breathe easier after securing a crucial result at Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday.
Meanwhile, the pressure will mount on UWC, who remains in the relegation zone.
Wits absorbed a lot of early pressure and then struck from the turnover ball. Two point-of-origin tries and two successful conversions boosted the hosts into a commanding 18-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula scored a second try thereafter, while halfback partner Chris Humphries secured the team’s four-try bonus point on the stroke of half-time. The tempo of the Wits attack wreaked havoc upon the visitors’ defence.
The hosts maintained their intensity after the break to surpass the half-century mark. Humphries finished the contest with a haul of 20 points.
In Gqeberha, FNB UJ recorded a well-deserved 24-9 win against FNB Madibaz. Two early converted tries by hooker Darnell Osuagwu gave the visitors a 14-0 lead, which is how it stayed until the start of the third quarter when flyhalf Jonathan Viljoen kicked a penalty goal. Replacement flank Philip Apea-Adu scored the Orange Army’s third try of the night in the 64th minute, but they were unable to get another for the bonus point.
Instead, it was fullback Kyle Cyster who got Madibaz on the board with a consolation point-of-origin try.
In Pretoria, number eight Divan Venter scored two of FNB UP-Tuks’ nine tries as they thrashed the winless FNB CUT Ixias 61-12.
FNB Maties rebounded from a poor start to beat the FNB NWU Eagles 20-12 in round six of the FNB Varsity Cup in Stellenbosch on Monday night.
NWU will be hard-pressed to make the play-offs from here. Maties, however, remain on the hunt for a home semi-final.
The match between FNB UFS Shimlas and the FNB UCT Ikeys was postponed due to lightning and was played on March 22.
FNB Varsity Cup round seven fixtures (March 28):
• FNB UWC vs FNB CUT (17:00, UWC Stadium)
• FNB UCT Ikeys vs FNB Maties (19:00, UCT Rugby Fields)
• FNB UP-Tuks vs FNB Wits (19:00, Tuks Stadium,)
• FNB NWU Eagles vs FNB Madibaz (19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds)
• FNB UJ vs FNB UFS Shimlas (19:00, UJ Stadium)
