TUT Vikings win 'Pretoria Derby'

The Varsity Cup 'Pretoria Derby', between FNB TUT and FNB Tuks this past weekend, saw the Vikings - who finished below Tuks in the 2010 tournament - grab a deserved 40-35 victory.

It was not the way Tuks would have liked to qualify for the play-offs. But, the consolation bonus point they got on Friday night - for losing by less than seven points to the TUT Vikings, was exactly what the University of Pretoria needed to become the first club to book a place in the Carlton Cup semifinals taking place at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, August 7.

Irrespective of the result in their last group match against Centurion on Saturday, Tuks have also - in the process - secured top spot on the log. Their 21 points can be equaled only by either Silver Valke or TUT - but Tuks have a better points' difference.

TUT and Silver Valke, meanwhile, will play each other in both teams' last second round match this weekend, with the former hunting a win which would definitely put them into the semifinals.

The Vikings' 40-35 win against Tuks was well-deserved, as they scored four tries to two and led for most of the match.

Tuks made a lot of basic mistakes and paid the price for it. Their first-time tackling was poor, their discipline just as bad and to top it all they gave away at least three tries through mistakes one would expect at primary school level.

The scorers:

For the FNB TUT Vikings:
Tries: Werner Lourens 2, Vince Gwavu, Hansie Graaff
Cons: Jaco Oosthuizen 3, Graaff
Pens: Oosthuizen, Graaff 3

For FNB Tuks:
Tries: Marius Weber, Dewald Pieters
Cons: Renier Wiessener 2
Pens: Wiessener 6
DG: Wiessener

Other Tuks results this weekend:
Second League: TUT 42 Naka Bulle 31
Under-19A: Tuks 122 Centurion 13

By Morris Gilbert/varsitycup.co.za