Wits go down at hands of Shimlas

The third round of the Varsity Cup took place on February 12 at the various universities and delivered some interesting results.

FNB Wits travelled to Bloemfontein on Monday and went down at the hands of FNB Shimlas. Both teams started off with basic rugby and displayed solid defence. FNB Shimlas crossed the try line first in the seventh minute when flyhalf Nicolaas Naude scored and converted his own try to open FNB Shimlas’ account 7-0. FNB Wits answered with a clinical try in the 11th minute as hooker Cecil Conradie went over for a five-pointer to bring the score to 7-5.

FNB Wits scored their second try when winger Kasende Kapepula charged down the FNB Shimlas flyhalf to score a try, while flyhalf Christian Humphries converted to put FNB Wits in the lead 7-12. With consistent pressure by the FNB Shimlas, they managed to level the score on half-time with a five-point try as Janco Cloete dotted over.

FNB Shimlas began the second half with a bang and regained their lead with a seven-pointer in the 42nd minute, as centre Sango Xamleshe crossed the try line and Naude converted to take the lead 21-12 for FNB Shimlas. But they weren’t done and scored their bonus-point try in the 45th minute, another nine-pointer, when lock Henk Pretorius went over. Naude converted to take the score to 30-12 for FNB Shimlas.

FNB Wits made a comeback with good set play and scored in the 58th minute, thanks to Conor Brockschmidt who rounded off to take the score to 30-17 with FNB Shimlas still in the lead. But FNB Shimlas stretched their lead again, to 35-17. FNB Wits was not done and the winger Kasende Kapepule scored his second try, converted by Humphries to take their final score to 24 points.

FNB Shimlas, however, had the last say when flanker Menzi Nhlabathi crossed the goal line for a seven-pointer to secure a confident win for the FNB Shimlas, 44-24.

Nicolaas Naude had a great day at the office with eighteen points scored and was awarded the FNB Player That Rocks.

The other results were as follows:

FNB CUT Ixias recorded only their second Varsity Cup win ever, as they ran out close victors over FNB Madibaz 38-37.

Chris Massyn scored a 59th minute try to help FNB Maties to a hard-fought 24-16 win over FNB Tuks in Stellenbosch on Monday evening.

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