Tuks add to NMMU's woes
Tukkies duly won their match against NMMU at home on Monday night, and also collected a bonus point in their 63-36 victory, but rarely looked like a potential title winner against one of this season's two winless sides in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
It was a hard-fought victory built on some solid forward play, but even though they scored nine tries, Tukkies seldom seemed to be playing with the rhythm and authority of a champion side. A good backline was somewhat starved of possession, and the best back play - ironically - came from the losers in the final quarter.
While the Madibas initially rarely threatened and with most of the possession going to the home team, Tukkies probably lost some focus and urgency fairly early on in what was a stop-start affair - with too many scrappy patches in their play to make them look forward to the encounters against the Maties (away), Shimlas (home) and Ikeys (in Cape Town) with confidence.
Wearing his pink shorts as the Player that Rocks (Man of the Match) from the previous week, fullback Justin van Staden (pictured), again, kept his side on the roll with 23 points - including a try. For the Madibas, flyhalf Willem Laubscher kicked 21 points.
Tukkies got their bonus point in the 31st minute and went into half-time 28-15 ahead.
Just after the break Van Staden's try and conversion put the home side ahead at 35-15, and then 20-year-old wing Dirk Dippenaar - destined for higher honours, no doubt - ran straight and hard, taking five men with him over the last five metres for his second try.
It was 42-15 after Van Staden's third conversion, and another driving maul by Tukkies saw flanker Tendayi Chikukwa go over with Van Staden again doing the honours (49-15).
Poor Tukkies defence, combined with ball-good retention by the Madibas, saw Carl van Niekerk score the visitors' first try after 57 minutes. Laubscher added the conversion to his five penalties (22-49).
Tukkies got to the half-century mark after a fourth try through their pack's powerful driving. Ettienne Breytenbach was again in possession to score his second try, with Van Staden adding two more points - again.
With NMMU using the ball more judiciously in the final quarter, and replacement Carl van Niekerk making a real impact, good interplay saw the Madibas score a long-range try by captain Luso Booi, following a good run by winger Oscar Mazaka. Laubscher was again on target (29-56).
Marius Weber scored a charge-down converted try for NMMU (63-29) and lock Jannie Fourie increased the Madibas' highest score of the competition with a try converted by Laubscher (36-63).
The scorers:
For FNB Tukkies:
Tries: Breytenbach 2, Van Wyk, Lombard, Dippenaar 2, Van Staden, Chikukwa, Weber
Cons: Van Staden 6
Pens: Van Staden 2
For FNB NMMU:
Tries: Van Niekerk, Booi, Fourie
Cons: Laubscher 3
Pens: Laubscher 5
The teams:
Tuks: 15 Justin van Staden, 14 Dirk Dippenaar, 13 Gert Smith, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Aaron Denenga, 10 Shaun Davids (captain), 9 Ignick Windvogel, 8 Coenie Pieterse, 7 Tendayi Chikukwa, 6 Louwrence Lombard, 5 Francois van Wyk, 4 Tiaan Nel, 3 Peet Vorster, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ettienne Breytenbach.
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Morné Mellet, 18 Joe Walters, 19 Marius Weber, 20 Wesleigh Marais, 21 Fanie Booysen, 22 Sampie Mastriet, 23 Hein Viljoen.
NMMU: 15 Aluzant Munnik, 14 Oscar Mazaka, 13 B Gerber, 12 Wade Roos, 11 Williams Heydenrych, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Luso Booi (captain), 8 Samuel Borsaah, 7 Mathew Lutge, 6 Thomasau Forbes, 5 Chris Dicks, 4 Jannie Fourie, 3 Pierre Hammand, 2 Hugo Lampbrechts, 1 Chariel van Jaarsveld.
Replacements: 16 Werner Kapp, 17 H Basson, 18 De Wet De Lange, 19 Ferdi Gerber, 20 H van Heerden, 21 Phiwe Lallendle, 22 Carl van Niekerk, 23 Stefan de Klerk.
Referee: Dilbert November