First semifinal for Shimlas

The FNB Shimlas qualified for the knockout phase of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for the first time, when they recorded a 51-32 win over the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Monday night.

Shimlas won a real thriller at home - a game that was in the balance right up until five minutes before the end - and they will now face the Ikey Tigers in Cape Town next week.

The Kovsies were the first team to open their account with a 45m kick by flyhalf Reinhardt Erwee for a 3-0 lead.

UJ hit back immediately with a great try through Lola Waka (right-wing) after flyhalf Ryno Luus doubled around nicely to create an opportunity for Waka to score in the left-hand corner.

It was Shimlas, though, who hit back through a try by big tighthead prop Ian Potgeter. Boom Prinsloo (No.8) was instrumental on two occasions in the build-up to the five-pointer.

UJ made their second visit to Shimlas' 22-metre area count with a score by No.8 Hennie Killian who dived over next to the ruck. Luus's conversion, and a penalty shortly thereafter, gave the visitors a 15-10 lead.

And just as it seemed if the students from Johannesburg were getting the upperhand, they made a silly handling error while mauling. Shimlas attacked from the opposing scrum and after a patient build-up, Boom Prinsloo went over under the sticks to take the lead again - 17-15.

UJ dominated position and territory in the first 30 minutes by keeping Shimlas pinned in their own half through some accurate kicking out of band. Shimlas' Erwee, on the other hand, struggled in the early parts of the mach overcooking a few of his kicks to touch.

As was the case often in the first half, the lead changed hands again with Shimlas scoring their third by Charles Marais (loosehead) who found himself on the right-wing. Franna du Toit's conversion went astray - but Shimlas had a crucial 22-18 half-time lead.

The home side started the second stanza in great style through a brilliant set-up, going through a number of phases, which ended in a penalty goal by Du Toit to stretch their lead to 25-18.

And it wasn't long before Shimlas scored their bonus point try by replacement-wing Divandré Strydom.

PW van Vuuren - who replaced Hans Grobler early in the second half - made a huge impact, especially in helping Shimlas securing front-foot ball.

UJ had plenty of opportunities to pull three points back, but opted to rather go for the five-pointer, which eventually came when flanker JP Janse van Rensburg scored a vital try to keep them in the game at 25-32 down.

The visitors showed plenty of fighting spirit to draw level in the 62th minute thanks to a try by another prop, Clint van Niekerk. The conversion by Luus levelled matters at 32-all.

But Shimlas were not prepared to lie down and took the lead - once again - thanks to a try by replacement flanker Gerrit Theron after a lineout drive. At 39-32, things could still have gone either way, but Jamba Ulengo (No.14) scored the match-winning try four minutes before the end.

The scorers:

For FNB Shimlas:
Tries: Potgieter, Prinsloo, Marais, Strydom 2, Theron, Ulengo
Cons: Erwee, Du Toit 4
Pens: Erwee, Du Toit

For FNB UJ:
Tries: Waka, Killian, Janse van Rensburg, Van Niekerk
Cons: Luus 3
Pens: Luus 2
 
The teams:

Shimlas: 15 Franna du Toit, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Earl Snyman, 12 Wayne Stevens (captain), 11 Beast Ndwandwa, 10 Reinhardt Erwee, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Sybrand Mostert, 5 Wilken Heyns, 4 Joubert Horn, 3 Ian Potgieter, 2 Hans Grobler, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 PW van Vuuren, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Gerrit Theron, 20 Marlin Ruiters, 21 Johan van Schalkwyk, 22 Divandré Strydom, 23 Johnny Harris.

UJ: 15 Aubrey McDonald, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luhan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 Ryno Luus, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Hennie Killian, 7 Wiehan Roos, 6 JP Janse van Rensburg, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Corné Cordier, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 JP Olivier, 18 Martin Lombard, 19 Quintin Minnaar, 20 Earl Lewis, 21 André Smith, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Anthony Gallacher.

Referee: Matt Kemp

By Ruan Bruwer