Tuks power too much for Pukke
FNB UP-Tuks claimed an impressive 40-20 win over FNB NWU-Pukke in a physical Varsity Cup encounter in Pretoria on Monday evening.
Tuks were deserved winners, but they were up against a determined side from Potchefstroom who gave as good as they got.
Unfortunately for the visitors, it was not enough in the end and they went down by five tries to three - which was probably an unfair reflection on their brave effort.
Tuks led 24-10 at half-time, after initially leading 8-0 after three minutes and then trailing by 8-10 at the end of the first quarter.
No.7 flank Jacques Verwey scored the game's opening points as the hosts rumbled over from a well-executed rolling maul virtually from the kick-off, with Tuks flyhalf Wesley Dunlop slotting the conversion.
The NWU-Pukke came straight back from the re-start and winger Andrew van Wyk - the leading try-scorer in the tournament now - forced his way over from close-range after his forwards had taken the ball up to the Tuks line.
Flyhalf Gerhard Nortier's conversion was spot-on and it was his 20th-minute penalty which put the visitors up by 10-8 as the teams went into the evening's first strategy break.
But Tuks kept the pressure on Pukke and eventually the dam wall split slightly - allowing strong centre Dabeon Draghoender to step inside two tackles and power his way over for try number two.
Dunlop converted to make it 16-10 after 27 minutes and SA Sevens representative Okkie Kruger very nearly made it try number three soon afterwards when he hacked a loose ball ahead and nearly crashed over. Kruger set the ball back nicely in the tackle but his teammates couldn't get the ball out quick enough and had to settle for the penalty. They went quickly, but were turned over and the ball was kicked into touch.
That relief was to be shortlived, however, as Tuks changed direction on attack a few minutes later and a burst of speed by Clayton Blommetjies took him to within an inch of the Pukke line. A brave 'grab-tackle' by visiting hooker Marius Fourie stopped Blommetjies in his tracks, but he was able to pop the ball into the hands of Fourie's opposite number, Jacques Momberg.
Dunlop again obliged with the conversion and at 24-10 at half-time, Pukke were chasing the game.
To their credit, the Men from Potch stuck to their task and began clawing their way. They were, in fact, the first team to register points in the second half when hard-working No.2 Fourie crashed over in the left-hand corner from a tap penalty. The Tuks players seemed to think the ball had been knocked on, but Television Match Official Shaun Veldsman ruled that all was 'okay' and the try was awarded.
Nortier missed the tricky conversion but at 15-24 down there would have been some hope of a fightback... that, hope, however, quickly vanished as fullback Blommetjies scored one of the most eye-catching tries in the history of this tournament.
With Tuks on the attack shortly before the start of the final quarter, Dunlop aimed a pin-point cross-kick to the right-hand side, allowing Blommetjies just enough time to pluck the ball out of mid-air - from under the Pukke defenders' noses - and to crash over for their fourth try.
Dunlop never looked like missing all night (with kicking coach Vlok Cilliers in close attendance throughout) and soon kicked his fifth conversion when scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs slid through a gap from close-range to put his team out of sight - after Dunlop's conversion - at 40-15 up.
With conversions with three points in the 2012 Varsity Cup - as opposed to two points - Dunlop effectively scored an extra try for his team by kicking all the conversions on offer on the night and he was without doubt the most influential player on the park, with Blommetjies's speed and adventure also serving his team well.
Up front, the loose trio of captain Jono Ross, Jacques Verwey and Okkie Kruger showed up very well for the hosts, but Pukke No.6 Philip de Wet deserves a mention for the massive effort he put in with the visiting team having the final say on the night when Van Wyk completed his try double shortly before full-time.
The scorers:
For FNB UP-Tuks:
Tries: Verwey, Draghoender, Momberg, Blommetjies, Jacobs
Cons: Dunlop 5
For FNB NWU-Pukke:
Tries: Van Wyk 2, Fourie
Con: Nortier
Pen: Nortier
The teams:
UP-Tuks: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Dabeon Draghoender, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Jono Ross (captain), 7 Jacques Verwey, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Stephan Pretorius, 2 Jacques Momberg, 1 Sabelo Nhlapo.
Replacements: 16 Zane Botha, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sthembiso Mlongo, 19 Lean Schwartz, 20 Clayton Stewart, 21 Willie du Plessis, 22 Riaan Britz, 23 Basil Short.
NWU-Pukke: 15 SW Oosthuizen, 14 Andrew van Wyk, 13 Hennie Scorbinski, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht (captain), 11 Joe Seerane, 10 Gerhard Nortier, 9 Tiaan Dorfling, 8 Spanner Pretorius, 7 Ernie Strydom, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Victor Kruger, 4 Siyanda Ndlovu, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Zander de Kock.
Replacements: 16 Chris Schoonraad, 17 Henry Scharneck, 18 Lodewyk Uys, 19 Siya Mdaka, 20 Andries Botha, 21 Ruan Jacobs, 22 Terswin Raubenheimer, 23 Mashudu Mafela.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Eduan Nel, Wilco Esterhuizen
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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