May 2, 20214 min read

MATCHDAY WRAP: CPUT, WSU remain unbeaten in FNB Varsity Shield

FNB CPUT overpowered the FNB UKZN Impi at Tuks Stadium on Sunday, while there were also Round 5 wins for the FNB TUT Vikings and FNB WSU All Blacks.

FNB DUT RHINOS 6 (6) FNB TUT VIKINGS 61 (19)

The FNB TUT Vikings scored nine tries in their win against the FNB DUT Rhinos, writes Bronwen Bain.

Six of them came in the second half, which the Vikings dominated. However, FNB DUT showed great character to produce their best performance of the competition and will be particularly pleased with their first-half effort.

It was the Rhinos who opened the scoring with a penalty goal from flyhalf Nelson Mhlongo, before lock LJ Viljoen scored FNB TUT’s first try.

Centre Mauritz Maritz marked his return from a broken cheekbone with an interception try on his 21st birthday and when winger Erwee Robberzte scored in the right corner, the Vikings led 19-6.

FNB DUT winger Luyolo Nkwanca was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle late in the first half but his team did not concede any points while down to 14 men.

FNB TUT replacement lock Laro Delport went over from a driving maul in the 53rd minute and from then on, it was one-way traffic.

Replacement centre Franco Stassen and flyhalf Lusanda Xakwana each scored two tries, before substitute prop Goabaona Mokone went over in the last minute for his team’s ninth.

FNB Player That Rocks: Lusanda Xakwana (FNB TUT)

FNB TUT Vikings – Tries: LJ Viljoen, Mauritz Maritz, Erwee Robberzte (2), Laro Delport, Franco Stassen (2), Lusanda Xakwana, Goabaona Mokone. Conversions: Lusanda Xakwana (8). FNB DUT Rhinos – Penalties: Nelson Mhlongo (2).

FNB CPUT 53 (22) FNB UKZN IMPI 12 (5)

FNB CPUT claimed a fifth consecutive bonus-point win to entrench their position at the top of the FNB Varsity Shield log, writes Dan Lombard.

The Tekkies dominated the majority of the match, securing their bonus-point try just before half-time, although the Impi did show glimpses of their ability from time to time.

It took less than two minutes for the men from the Cape to score their opening try as Asisipho Malotana dotted down. However, the wing had to sit in the naughty chair in the 15th minute, which FNB UKZN exploited shortly after when outside centre Wandile Shabangu did brilliantly to score in the right corner.

It was blue and white after the first strategy break as the Tekkies attacked at will, with inside centre Lunathi Nxele, captain and flank Butsha Mputa and prop Matthew Coenraad all scoring tries. Flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders added a conversion to push the lead to 22-5 at half-time.

FNB UKZN flank Menzi Mabaso showed great strength to power over early in the second half, but this proved to be the last time they would threaten the scoreboard.

The Tekkies' discipline was poor, yet it didn't seem to affect them all that much despite losing Nxele and wing Nathan Nkutu to yellow cards.

Scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht started an emphatic try-scoring spree for FNB CPUT as his efforts were followed by Nxele's brace, a second for Mputa while replacement back Björkan Hendricks and replacement lock Bradley van Boven completed an impressive haul.

FNB Player That Rocks: Lunathi Nxele (FNB CPUT)

FNB CPUT – Tries: Asisipho Malotana, Lunathi Nxele (2), Butsha Mputa (2), Matthew Coenraad, Hugan Engelbrecht, Björkan Hendricks, Bradley van Boven. Conversions: Feghon-Leigh Snyders, Imibongo Vabaza (3). FNB UKZN Impi – Tries: Wandile Shabangu, Menzi Mabaso; Conversions: Sibongile Novuka.

FNB RHODES 10 (10) FNB WSU ALL BLACKS 63 (28)

The FNB WSU All Blacks dotted down on nine occasions, including two penalty tries, as they trampled the Stallions, writes Dan Lombard.

FNB Rhodes stunned their opponents with an aggressive game plan, bullying their way through collision after collision in the first 20.

Flyhalf Matthew Royle knocked over a penalty before converting the try of outside centre Damian Morrow, who ran in hard and fast to leave a stunned FNB WSU scratching their heads.

The first strategy break seemed to work as the calming, somewhat frustrated, voices of the All Blacks' management seemed to awake the Eastern Cape giants from their slumber, with captain and wing Litha Nkula running in a brace.

FNB WSU grew more and more confident as the first stanza progressed, with the forwards' monstrous ability at scrum time earning themselves a penalty try.

The Stallions must be commended on not faulting on defence as they fronted up on most occasions. However, such was the ferocity on attack by the All Blacks that lock Miyelani Ngobeni steamed through to score a bonus-point try that made it 28-10 at half-time.

The second half only opened up in the 50th minute when replacement lock Simamkele Mphelo spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. FNB WSU capitalised on it with another penalty try and flyhalf Lisolethu Valisi then dotted down shortly before the second strategy break.

The final 20 minutes provided three more tries courtesy of replacement flank Azola Mashalaba, wing Soyama Mini and lock Asekho Marubelela. Nkula converted all three to finish with a 24-point haul.

FNB Player That Rocks: Litha Nkula (FNB WSU All Blacks)

FNB Rhodes – Tries: Damian Morrow. Conversion: Matthew Royle. Penalty: Royle. FNB WSU All Blacks – Tries: Litha Nkula (2), penalty try (2), Miyelani Ngobeni, Lisolethu Valisi, Azola Mashalaba, Soyama Mini, Asekho Marubelela. Conversions: Nkula (7).

FNB Varsity Shield teams (Round 5)

The FNB Varsity Shield will continue on Tuesday with three Round 6 matches at Tuks Stadium, including a massive top-of-the-log clash between FNB CPUT and the FNB WSU All Blacks.