Shimlas smash TUT
The University of the Free State (FNB Shimlas) annihilated the Tshwane University of Technology (FNB TUT) 78-22 in a one-sided Varsity Cup game in the TUT Stadium on Monday night, scoring 12 tries in the process.
Both teams had everything to play for on the night.
Shimlas had an outside chance to qualify for the semifinals, provided that they scored at least four tries and both Tukkies and UJ lost their last games.
So it was expected that they would came to Pretoria with a positive attitude to score as many tries as possible against the tail-enders of the competition. And this they did.
TUT, on the other hand, knew that a win tonight would probably save them from the humiliation of a relegation game later this year. But it was not to be for the Men from Pretoria. They were outclassed once again.
While TUT looked a bit listless from the outset, Shimlas started to run with the ball from the outset. Four minutes later, their captain and flyhalf, Jaco Colyn, run through for the first try of the match.
For TUT it was the same story than most of their previous matches. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game and they played on the backfoot most of the time, except for the three times they managed to score consolation tries.
Shimlas scored their fourth try for a bonus point after just 30 minutes in the first half, when tighthead prop Drew van Coller drove over the line. They scored another two soft tries in the dying minutes of the first half after poor defence by TUT to bring the half-time score to 40-8.
In the second half, TUT came out with a positive attitude and tried to turn the tide. They scored first in this half when loosehead Jan Harm Steenkamp went over.
But the fightback did not last long, because Shimlas again launched one attack after the other.
This approach was made much easier with the plenty of possession they enjoyed. Eventually, they scored another six tries in the second half to bring their total of tries to twelve for the match.
Although TUT were totally outplayed, their captain on the day, Wikus Botes, never gave up. He played his heart out, like he did in every other match this season. Lock Johan Steenkamp also gave everything he had.
It would be unfair to single out any of the Shimlas players, because they played magnificently as a team.
But one just has to mention the name of flanker Johan (Boer) van Niekerk. He was exceptional, after he changed places with Willie Britz to be included in the run-on XV just before kick-off.
The scorers:
For Shimlas:
Tries: Colyn, Van Niekerk 3, Jacobs 2, Van Coller, La Grange 2, Windvogel, Roux, Ndwandwa
Con: Jacobs 9
For TUT:
Tries: Botha, Steenkamp, De Kock
Cons: Losper 2
Pen: Losper
The teams:
FNB TUT: 15 TC Losper, 14 Wynand Willis, 13 Johan Swartz, 12 Lloyd Dryer, 11 Pieter Botha, 10 Chanley Williams, 9 André Potgieter, 8 Adrihan Kruger, 7 Oswin Mentoor, 6 Wikus Botes (captain), 5 Johan Steenkamp, 4 Jaques Venter, 3 Johann Visser, 2 Brendan Tshoshane, 1 Jan-Harm Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Ruhan de Kock, 17 Jacques Venter, 18 Tiaan Fick, 19 Ryno Coetzee, 20 Johann Visser, 21 Simphiwe Mtimkulu, 22 Hoosein Legoabe.
FNB Shimlas: 15 Llewellyn Adonis, 14 Shagan Windvogel, 13 Cameron Jacobs, 12 Niël Jacobs, 11 Roelof Steyn, 10 Jaco Colyn (captain), 9 Marlin Ruiters, 8 Arné Grobbelaar, 7 Willie Britz, 6 André Tredoux, 5 Frans la Grange, 4 Phillip Steyn, 3 Drew van Coller, 2 Hans Grobler, 1 Roelof Koorsen.
Replacements: 16 Gert Erasmus, 17 Sewes Oosthuizen, 18 Paul Roux, 19 Johan van Niekerk, 20 Mayibuye Ndwandwa, 21 Earl Snyman, 22 Lionel Cronjé.
SAPA