Cool head Smith squares it for UJ

It took a last-minute penalty by University of Johannesburg (UJ) flyhalf André Smith to tie up the scores at 34-34, as nine tries and a see-sawing scoreline by Tukkies and UJ did the 2010 Varsity Cup competition full justice at Tukkies Athletics Stadium on Monday night.

Three great backline tries by the wingers in the first 15 minutes set up the match - and although there were the odd quiet periods, it was a match that will ensure more near-full stadiums as was the case in Pretoria on Monday night.

Tukkies started off as they did last week against the Pukke with a full backline move - the first of the day - rounded off by Sevens Springbok Deon Helberg.

Ten minutes later he did so again to put his side 10-0 in the lead, with Gert Smith missing the two conversions and three penalties in the first 25 minutes - albeit that one penalty was from all of 60 metres out.

UJ, who had seen very little of the ball up till then, then reciprocated after 15 minutes and gave Helberg's direct opponent Lolo Waka a near-clear run which was made easier by some loose tackling early on. With André Smith's conversion on target, they were only 7-10 behind.

UJ came more into the game - a fast-moving encounter that fluctuated from the one half to the other, despite some periods of good forward confrontation. They were the next to score, on the half hour, when captain Clinton de Klerk burst through the Tukkies defence after good pressure from the UJ forwards. With Smith again on target, it was 14-10 to the visitors.

But some good angled-running from Tukkies in a period where they won increasingly less ball and a fluent move from a good ruck saw left-wing Justin van Stade finish well near he corner - and this time Van Staden was entrusted with the kicking and made no mistake to put his team 17-14 up at the break.

It was real FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International rugby, with four of the five first-half tries coming from wings and one from a centre.

Shortly after the restart, however, Smith squared matters up with a penalty after a ruck offence on Tukkies' line and then flanker Justin Wheeler had a near 60-metre stroll - following an intercept. Smith, again, converted.

But that did not deter Tukkies. Captain Shaun Davids, with four beautiful side-steps that showed why he is an Emerging Sevens Springbok, went over under the posts to level things at 24-all.

Shortly after the restart, Davids was caught on his line - and UJ hooker Edgar Marutlulle surely knew the rugby gods were on his side when a botched clearance kick from behind the Tukkies line went into his breadbasket. He hung on and all he had to do was fall over the goalline. He duly did that and Smith put his side ahead by 31-24.

Van Staden pulled three points back with a 52 metres penalty after 58 minutes.
 
And then, in the third give-away try of the evening, Lions Currie Cup player Earl Lewis who otherwise had a solid and at times spectacular game, attempted a crazy drop kick from a good 60 metres out against an advancing backline. Franco Booysen was in his way, and from the rebound Booysen ran 40 metres to go over under the posts for Smith to convert and the put home team back in the lead at 34-31.

Ten minutes later, with time over, Helberg threw the ball away when UJ wanted a quick lineout, and Smith - André that is - evened matters for UJ; leaving Tuks winless in 2010 after losing to Pukke last Monday.

The scorers:

For FNB Tukkies:
Tries: Helberg 2, Van Staden, Davids, Booysen
Cons: Van Staden 3
Pen: Van Staden

For FNB UJ:
Tries: Waka, De Klerk, Wheeler, Marutlulle
Cons: Smith 4
Pens: Smith 2

The teams:

Tuks: 15 Gert Smith, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Ernie Kruger, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Justin van Staden, 10 Shaun Davids (captain), 9 Wesleigh Marais, 8 Marius Weber, 7 Devon Oosthuizen, 6 Lourens Lombaardt, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Tiaan Nel, 3 Hein Viljoen, 2 Chris Crous, 1 Musa Tukela.
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, Ettienne Breytenbach, 18 Joe Walters, 19 Oswin Mentoor, 20 Stanley Twiname, 21 Donovan Marais, 22 Tendai Chikukwa, 23 Danie Oosthuizen.

UJ: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Edrich van Tonder, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 André Smith, 9 Danny Botha, 8 Quintin Minnaar, 7 Wendal Wehr, 6 Justin Wheeler, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Martin Lombard, 3 Wayne Swart, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 JP Olivier, 18 David Bulbring, 19 JP Janse van Rensburg, 20 Jacques Pretorius, 21 Ryno Luus, 22 Aubrey MacDonald, 23 Jaco Claassen.

Referee: François Veldsman