Varsity Shield: Fort Hare stay top
ROUND FOUR WRAP: The UFH Blues beat WSU 27-13 in Round Four of the Varsity Shield on Sunday to consolidate their position at the top of the log.
Two days after thumping Rhodes 46-0, Lumumba Currie’s side produced another physical display to claim their fourth consecutive win.
WSU, who were the fresher team having enjoyed a bye in Round Three, were fiercely competitive at the line-out and breakdown. They failed to challenge the Blues at the scrum, however, and it was from this set-piece that UFH took control.
Flyhalf Keith Chiwara converted that physical dominance into territory and scoring opportunities. The Blues went to half-time with a commanding 18-3 lead, with lock Walter Moyo and centre Ryan Maree having crossed the tryline. After the break, Chiwara continued to punish WSU via his unerring boot. The Zimbabwe Sables No.10 finished the game with a personal tally of 17 points.
The UKZN Impi outlasted an ill-disciplined TUT Vikings side to secure a campaign-boosting 17-16 win.
The Vikings made a physical statement in the opening quarter. The game changed, however, after captain Laro Delport was shown a red card for a reckless tackle in the 15th minute. The Impi failed to take control of the contest and lost momentum after prop Tristan Trollip received a yellow card.
TUT overstepped the mark again, though, when a high challenge by Lutho Tom landed the reserve loose forward in the sin bin on the stroke of half-time. The ill-tempered arm-wrestle continued into the second stanza. Mauritz Maritz slotted two penalties to give his team the advantage as the game approached a thrilling climax.
UKZN needed something special and No.8 Menzi Mabaso obliged when he powered through the defence to score the game-winning try. The result sees the Impi consolidating their position in the top four, while the Vikings remain winless after four matches.
CPUT made wholesale changes to the team that outplayed the TUT Vikings on Friday yet were still able to claim a comfortable 36-3 win against DUT.
Outside centre Iwaan Bloys and left wing Keenan Williams scored first-quarter tries for the defending champions. However, DUT dominated the next period of play and deserved more than just a penalty goal from flyhalf Minenhle Siwela for their efforts. Having survived a lengthy onslaught on their tryline, CPUT finished the first half with a flourish as Bloys’ second try gave them a 17-3 lead at the break.
The third quarter was a scrappy affair, with both teams losing players to yellow cards (DUT replacement prop Pernel Ngubo and CPUT fullback Keano Cookson). It was still 14 on 14 when replacement flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders scored CPUT’s bonus-point try in the left corner.
With both teams restored to 15 men, the Cape Town students crossed for two more tries to add some gloss to the scoreline.
Varsity Shield Round Four results and scorers:
DUT 3-36 CPUT
The scorers:
For DUT:
Pen: Minenhle Siwela
For CPUT:
Tries: Iwaan Bloys 2, Keenan Williams, Feghon-Leigh Snyders, Hugan Engelbrecht, Keanan Solomons
Cons: Keano Cookson, Feghon-Leigh Snyders 2
Player That Rocks: Iwaan Bloys (CPUT)
UFH Blues 27-13 WSU
The scorers:
For UFH Blues:
Tries: Walter Moyo, Ryan Maree
Con: Keith Chinwara
Pens: Chiwara 5
For WSU:
Tries: Bubele Gongqa, Sibusiso Hans
Pen: Lwandile Mapuko.
Player That Rocks: Keith Chiwara (UFH Blues)
TUT Vikings 16-17 UKZN Impi
The scorers:
For TUT Vikings:
Try: Handre Horn
Con: Mauritz Maritz
Pens: Maritz 3
For UKZN Impi:
Tries: Zamakuhle Zulu 2, Menzi Mabaso
Con: Jarryd Nicholls
Player That Rocks: Menzi Mabaso (UKZN Impi)
Photo credit: ASEM Engage/Catherine Kotze