Tuks goes top after Maties draw again

Rugby that Rocks delivered the action yet again when the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International returned for its second round of sizzling action on Monday February 16.

Local university FNB UJ went down to an up field team from the Freestate, when FNB UFS-Shimlas showed impressive discipline to notch a tough 24-0 victory. Three conversions by Neil Marais earned him the FNB Player that Rocks award, while Conraad van Vuuren, Mthokozisi Mkhabela and Tertius Kruger scored a try apiece.

FNB Maties made it consecutive draws in a tough battle against FNB Pukke, when the two teams drew 26-26 in Stellenbosch. The draw puts Pukke second on the table, level on points with Tuks, who go top after romping to a 39-24 win over defending champions UCT. It was Ikeys’ first defeat away from home since 2013. Six tries from Tuks and three conversions were enough to ensure they keep their dominant form against the Cape Town team who have not managed to beat them since 2011.

Jermaine Kleinsmith and Ruan Steenkamp scored two tries each, while Daniel Kriel and Nqobisiswe Mxoli also crossed the line and Josh Stander converted thrice to help Tuks to a big win. Robin Murray, Guy Alexander and Paul Cohen were the try scorers for UCT, with Warren Seals converting all three.

In Port Elizabeth, FNB NMMU-Madibaz bounced back from defeat last week to beat newly-promoted FNB Cut 34-13. Madibaz notched up 18 points in the first half, which proved to be too much for the tournament newbies, but the match will also be remembered for its six yellow cards.

Madibaz piled on the pressure in the early stages, but a resolute CUT defence could only keep the attack at bay until the seventh minute, when the home team opened the scoring. CUT couldn’t recover and slipped to their second defeat of the tournament.

Two tries apiece from Daniel Acker and Devon Lailvaux and a try from Tythan Adams and two conversions from Ruan Allerston plus one from Steven Hansel helped set up the Madibaz’s maiden victory. Ali Mgijima, MosegoToolo and Jesse du Toit notched up the consolation points for the visitors. Lailvaux’s efforts earned him the FNB Player that Rocks award for the night.

Meanwhile, in the FNB Varsity Shield, FNB Wits surged to the top of the table, with a game still in hand, after a thumping 13-56 win over FNB UKZN in Pietermaritzburg. UKZN managed to remain second, despite the heavy defeat.

FNB UWC picked up their first win of the season in a close encounter in Pretoria, where they beat FNB TUT 18-21.