Rhodes avoid the big drop
FRIDAY WRAP: Rhodes retained their place in the Varsity Shield when their round-seven match against the TUT Vikings in Pretoria was abandoned at half-time due to heavy rain, lightning and thunder.
The Stallions were leading 11-10 at the time and, according to tournament regulations, declared the winners.
As a result, Rhodes finished with 10 log points on the combined 2021-22 Varsity Shield log, two points ahead of DUT, who are relegated from the tournament.
Two penalties from flyhalf Jano Roux gave Rhodes a 6-3 lead, before hooker Uzuqaqambe Nyanda scored from a maul in the 28th minute. The TUT Vikings hit back with a converted try by No 8 and captain Laro Delport on the stroke of half-time, but unfortunately for them – and DUT – that proved to be the final act of the match.
In the first fixture of the day, at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, UFH Blues captain Kamvelihle Fatyela scored a brace as his team beat DUT 26-0 to finish the league phase at the top of the Varsity Shield standings. With their place in the playoffs assured, the Blues produced a somewhat complacent performance in the first half. By contrast, DUT fought for every inch to stay in the contest.
DUT was competitive against a highly-rated Fort Hare scrum. Their defence managed to repel the Blues while Siyanda Mthembu was in the sin bin. UFH centre Ryan Maree scored in the dying minutes of the first half to extend his side’s lead to eight points. After the break, the Blues lifted their intensity and accuracy to take the game away from their plucky opponents.
Fatyela touched down twice, while fullback Apiwe Sidloyi crossed the line for the bonus-point try. Despite a poor goal-kicking performance, Fort Hare went on to claim an emphatic win. Lumumba Currie’s team has won all six of their matches to date and will go into the playoffs as favourites to win the title.
In the second match in Mdantsane, CPUT scored five tries against the WSU All Blacks to claim a 31-5 bonus-point victory. CPUT made their attacking intentions clear from the outset of this contest. An unrelenting approach at the gainline – which was well complemented by the sharp decision-making of flyhalf Feghorn-Leigh Snyders – yielded four tries and the bonus point before half-time.
The All Blacks fought hard to stay in the game. Their discipline let them down in the latter stages, though, as Thembani Kori and Dale Titus were sent to the sin bin. The bonus-point win sees CPUT leapfrogging UKZN Impi and finishing second in the Varsity Shield standings.
Varsity Shield Round Seven results and scorers:
UFH Blues 26-0 DUT
The scorers
For UFH Blues
Tries: Ryan Maree, Kamvelihle Fatyela 2, Apiwe Sidloyi
Pens: Keith Chiwara 2
For DUT
None
Player That Rocks: Kamvelihle Fatyela (UFH Blues)
WSU 5-31 CPUT
The scorers
For WSU
Try: Khanya Solan
For CPUT
Tries: Keanan Solomons, Keenan Williams, Feghorn-Leigh Snyders, Björkan Hendricks, Ché Klaasen
Cons: Snyders 3
Player That Rocks: Ché Klaasen (CPUT)
TUT Vikings 10-11 Rhodes
* Note: Match abandoned at half-time due to lightning
The scorers
For TUT Vikings
Try: Laro Delport
Con: Ayabulela Koza
Pen: Koza
For Rhodes
Try: Uzuqaqambe Nyanda
Pens: Jano Roux 2
Semifinals
Thursday, April 14
* CPUT v UKZN Impi (17.00, Davidson Field, Fort Hare)
* UFH Blues v WSU All Blacks (19.15, Davidson Field, Fort Hare)
Picture credit: Christiaan Kotze/Varsity