UJ shipwrecked by Pirates

FNB UJ suffered a 13-19 Grand Challenge loss to Pirates on Saturday - a result which has put paid to their chances of qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships.

UJ scored two tries to one, but Wille Slabbert's boot - he kicked one conversion, one drop-goal and two penalties - saw Pirates home in the end.

The UJ tries were scored by inside centre JJ Pienaar and right-wing Itumeleng Mogotsi, but the Men from Johannesburg will be disappointed at missing out on a trip to the National Club Champs - at Tukkies - in September.

UJ - who finished fifth on the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International log - have been in good form during the league season, having also won the Melrose Sevens tournament in Scotland.

Despite not qualifying for the Club champs, they can still, however, win the Grand Challenge should they return to winning ways.

UJ's scorers (v Pirates):
Tries: JJ Pienaar, Itumeleng Mogotsi
Pen: Earl Lewis

The UJ team: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Itumeleng Mogotsi, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 JJ Pienaar, 11 Edrich 'Trekker' van Tonder, 10 Arno Coetzee, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Sisa Mafu, 7 Andries Nel, 6 Julian Erasmus, 5 Lehan Koekemoer, 4 Martyn Lombard, 3 Clint van Niekerk, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Wayne Swart.
Replacements: 16 KP du Plessis, 17 Leon Venter, 18 Rob Andrew, 19 Hennie Killian, 20 André Smith, 21 Hennie Oosthuizen, 22 AN Other.