Tukkies het hul laaste kans om te kwalifiseer vir die eindrondte van die Varsity Cup-kompetisie verbeur toe hulle verlede Maandagaand teen Shimlas van Bloemfontein 23-27 verloor het. TUT, die ander Varsity Cup-span van Pretoria het ook hul wedstryd teen Pukke in Potchefstroom 51-17 verloor.
Koos Venter
The University of Pretoria (Tukkies) will not qualify for the play-offs in this year’s Varsity Cup competition after they lost to the Shimlas from Bloemfontein 23-27 last Monday night.
It was a must win game for both teams. In the end, Shimlas was the better team and they scored four tries to the two of Tukkies.
Shimlas started at a lightning pace and they attacked from the first whistle. Ten minutes later, Tuks’ hooker was sent to the sin bin after he killed the ball and Shimlas scored the first try of the match from the next lineout.
Two minutes later, Tukkies captain, Shaun Davids, scored behind the posts. Gert Smith levelled the score with the conversion.
These two tries provided the spark to set the game alight and from then onwards the crowd saw exiting running rugby throughout.
The difference between the two sides was the fact that Tukkies were willing to run but they played sloppy and could not round off any move.
Tukkies clearly had the stronger pack of forwards but they struggled to use this to their advantage.
The turning point of the match came seven minutes before half time when Shimlas scored two tries with only 14 men on the field, after one of their locks were sent to the sin bin.
Tuks could not get their hands on the ball in those last minutes before the break, in spite of being fifteen players against fourteen.
Shortly after half time, Beast Ndwandwa, left wing of Shimlas, scored a try against the run of play after Shimlas went on the counter attack when Tukkies lost the ball again in a promising move.
Tukkies had to wait until halfway through the second half for their next try, also by captain Shaun Davids.
In the last ten minutes Tukkies gave everything they had and they attacked from every corner of the brand new pitch at LC de Villiers.
However, Shimlas, who scored their bonus point try in the first ten minutes of the second half, were happy to defend their lead and see the game through.
• In Potchefstroom the other Varsity Cup team from Pretoria, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), received a hiding from the Pukke.
The Potch boys won the game 51-17.
TUT held on until half time with the score line at only 17-10 when the teams took the break. In the second half it became clear that Pukke were playing for a place in the semi-finals. They went on to score 34 points in forty minutes to secure their place in the play-offs.
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