Shimlas edge Ixias in nail biter
The Bloemfontein derby lived up to expectations as both sides went full out to secure the win. However, Shimlas showed their champion mentality as a late penalty helped them seal the slender victory to remain unbeaten in the competition.
The Bloemfontein derby began against the grain as CUT-Ixias were the first on the board thanks to the trusty boot of Meyer van Tonder. The fullback split the uprights after 12 minutes of play to hand the Ixias a 3-0 lead.
It took the defending champions 23 minutes to get themselves on the scoreboard. Wing Mosolwa Mafuma benefitted from a brilliant inside pass to grab the first try of the match. Pieter-Steyn de Wet made no mistake with the conversion to hand the Shimlas a 7-3 lead.
The scoreboard changed some 14 minutes later when CUT got themselves to within a point of Shimlas, van Tonder slotting his second penalty of the match to take the score to 7-6 in favour of Shimlas.
There was to be no further points as the Shimlas went into the break holding a slender one point lead.
The second half was a tight affair as both sides were able to withstand the other's pressure. Neither side could manage to find any points as Shimlas maintained their 7-6 lead after 55 minutes of play.
Shimlas were pressing hard to stretch their lead, and following the game's second strategic break, found themselves within inches of grabbing their second try of the match. However, a handling error stopped their momentum and allowed the Ixias some relief.
The match was reaching a tense conclusion as, with four minutes remaining, CUT grabbed a two point lead, thanks van Tonder slotting his third penalty of the match.
With a minute remaining in the match, Shimlas regained their one point lead when de Wet slotted a late penalty. It proved to be enough for the defending champions to claim the narrow victory.
Scorers:
For UFS-Shimlas:
Try: Mafuma
Con: de Wet
Pen: de Wet
For CUT-Ixias:
Pens: van Tonder 3
Teams:
UFS-Shimlas: 15 Marco Mason, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Stephan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Arthur Williams, 11 Mosolwa Mafuma, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Wilhelm Kotzenberg, 7 Neil Claassen, 6 Musa Mahlasela, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Ntokoza Vidima, 3 Dolph Botha, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Thabiso Khanye.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Teunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Nicolaas Immelman, 19 Boela Venter, 20 Renier Botha, 21 Anrich Alberts, 22 Renaldo Meyer, 23 Chase Morison.
CUT-Ixias: 15 Meyer van Tonder, 14 Ruan Wasserman, 13 Charles Hitchcock, 12 Johan Nel, 11 Henry Immelman, 10 Darron Baron, 9 Marius Grobler, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Vincent Maruping, 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Rayno Nel, 4 Wikus Davis, 3 Gunter Janse van Vuuren, 2 Theuns Truter, 1 Juan Volkwyn.
Replacements: 16 Len Noort, 17 Gerard Baard, 18 Sylvester Makakole, 19 Junior Burger, 20 Dean Jacobs, 21 Ali Mgijima, 22 Lethole Mokoena, 23 George Marich.
Referee: Jaco Kotze