Articles
UJ lay down serious marker
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) overturned a 7-10 half-time deficit to run out shock 34-22 winners over the University of Cape Town (Ikeys) at Groote Schuur's Green Mile, Cape Town, on Monday evening.
The visiting UJ side ran in four tries against three by the hosts in a match, which only really came to light in the second half.
Ikey fullback Therlow Pietersen romped in for the first try of the match to crown his side's spirited start and flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis added the conversion and a penalty soon afterwards for a deserving 10-0 lead - crucially, with the wind at UCT's backs.
The setback did little to deter UJ who towards the first of the first half managed to relieve the pressure and their efforts were rewarded with a try by captain and flanker - and the eventual Man of the Match - Justin Wheeler.
Fullback Theuns Kotze (pictured) converted and the teams changed ends at 10-7.
UJ returned from the break full of running but their early second-half sorties came to nought as the Ikeys' defence stood firm.
However, as the Ikeys created pressure by taking play deep in their opponents' half their lapses at the breakdown play cost them dearly.
Their inability to protect their ball saw the UJ speedsters stage several break-outs in quick succession with telling effect. Tries by Aubrey McDonald, Jacques Pretorius, Wigan Pekeur, all of which were converted by Kotze took the game away from the Ikeys.
In the final quarter the Ikeys pressed hard but in the end they ran out of time, after tries by backs Mark Winter and Paul Cohen, with Catrakilis succeeding with one conversion.
With the clock running down, André Smith hammered the final nail in the Ikeys' coffin with a drop-goal to put the final result beyond doubt.
The scorers:
For FNB UCT:
Tries: Pietersen, Winter, Cohen
Cons: Catrakilis 2
Pen: Catrakilis
For FNB UJ:
Tries: Wheeler, Kotze, Wehr, McDonald
Cons: Kotze 4
Pen: Kotze
DG: Smith
The teams:
UCT: 15 Therlow Pietersen, 14 Pete Haw, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Oliver Braithwaite, 11 Paul Cohen, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nicholas Farrar, 8 Nick Fenton-Wells (captain), 7 Alexander Macdonald, 6 Donovan Armand, 5 Levi Odendaal, 4 Pallo Manuel, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Dayne Jans, 1 Francois van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Matt Page, 17 Wesley Chetty, 18 Harrison Edwards, 19 Michael Morris, 20 Scott Watermeyer, 21 Mark Winter, 22 Sabelo Siyakatshana, 23 Pete Olivier.
UJ: 15 Theuns Kotze, 14 Aubrey McDonald, 13 Justin St. Jerry, 12 Luan Steenkamp, 11 Lolo Waka, 10 André Smith, 9 Rudi Paige, 8 Cameron Peverett, 7 Justin Wheeler (captain), 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Yssel Swanepoel, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Alfred Ries, 17 Ollie Terblanche, 18 Shane Kirkwood, 19 Johan van Deventer, 20 Jacques Pretorius, 21 Divan van Zyl, 22 Wigan Pekeur, 23 Anthony Gallacher.
Referee: François Groenewald
By Herman Gibbs (Sapa)
