Roberts the UWC hat-trick hero
FNB UWC wing Cheslyn Roberts was the hat-trick hero for his team in the Varsity Shield in their 36-13 triumph over FNB Fort Hare in Alice on Monday.
The atmosphere under the lights in Alice was fantastic with the vocal supporters getting behind their team for their opening Varsity Shield match of the new season.
The match was tightly contested and yielded no less than four yellow cards with a stern line taken by referee Lusanda Jam.
It was UWC who launched the early attacks and sucked in Fort Hare defenders around the fringes of the ruck, before spreading the ball out wide to speedy wing Roberts, who slid into the corner for the opening try.
Roberts was in again for a second try shortly afterwards, as UWC attacked from a line-out and quickly sent the ball out wide where Roberts had ample time and space.
Fort Hare were able to fight their way back into the match when flyhalf Teboho Makuru sparked an attack and stepped past three defenders, before he off-loaded to flank Abongile Dlani for the home side's first try.
Fort Hare hooker Vuyisani Mavuso was then yellow carded for illegally sacking a maul on his side's tryline, in the first of four yellow card offenses.
On the stroke of half-time UWC lock Garth Adense was given his marching orders for not rolling away from a tackle while Fort Hare were on attack. UFH trailed 8-16 at the break.
At the star of the second half Fort Hare skipper Thando Ndondo broke off the back of a five metre scrum and stretched for the line in a tackle. However, on review the TMO's verdict was that there was inconclusive evidence and the try could not be awarded.
Ndondo sparked another attack when he picked up off the base of the scrum and put wing Aziyena Mandaba into space. Mandaba went inside and outside before Sihle Mtwa drove over the line for an important try to make the score 13-18.
Fort Hare were dealt a crippling blow with 15 minutes to play when lock Itumeleng Mokae became the fourth man to be sent into the sin bin for not rolling away. UWC fullback Warrick Rhoda struck the penalty to extend the lead to 13-20.
Roberts finished off his hat-trick in the corner with three minutes left on the clock. the ball was flung wide once again and with a man down Fort hare didn't have the numbers they needed out wide to stop the speedy wing from completing a well deserved hat-trick.
UWC's final attack won them a bonus point, when they were awarded a penalty try after replacement flyhalf Yondela Stampu stabbed through a kick and was tackled without the ball. Rhoda added the conversion to finish the match with a convincing UWC victory.
The scorers:
For FNB UFH:
Tries: Dlani, Mtwa
Con: Makuru
Yellow cards: Vuyisani Mavuso (30 min - collapsing a maul), Itumeleng Mokae (65 min - not rolling away)
For FNB UWC:
Tries: Roberts 3, penalty try
Cons: Van Vollenhoven 2, Rhoda 2
Pens: Van Vollenhoven, Rhoda
Yellow cards: Garth Adense (40 min - not rolling away), Samuel Borsah (57 min - not retreating)
The teams:
Fort Hare: 15 Sikho Jekubeni, 14 Garth van Rayner, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Buntu Ntlanzi, 11 Lutho Zathu, 10 Teboho Makuru, 9 Sibabalwe Mtsulwana, 8 Nkosikhona Nofuma, 7 Thando Ndondo (captain), 6 Abongile Dlani, 5 Billy Dutton, 4 Itumeleng Mokae, 3 Xola Mapapu, 2 Vuyisani Mavuso, 1 Sive Ntwasa.
Replacements: 16 Luzuko Nyabaza, 17 Douglas Manyame, 18 Mzwandile Yalezo, 19 Andile Makinana, 20 Anele Tsiko, 21 Khanyiso Komani, 22 Aziyena Mandaba, 23 Sihle Mtwa.
UWC: 15 Warrick Rhoda, 14 Donovan Williams, 13 Kenwin Weiner, 12 Justin McKay, 11 Cheslyn Roberts, 10 Charl van Vollenhoven, 9 Freddie Muller, 8 Samuel Borsah, 7 Darren Luiters, 6 Njabulo Ndlovu, 5 JP Kellerman, 4 Garth Adense, 3 Devon Martinus, 2 Charlton van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Peter Lorens.
Replacements: 16 Michael Mkhize, 17 Curtis Beukes, 18 Jaycee Jooste, 19 Chadwick Peterson, 20 Denzil Willemse, 21 Yondela Stampu, 22 Maxwel Andrews, 23 Denzil Lindoor.
Referee: Lusanda Jam
Assistant referees: Loyiso Bosman, Sipokazi Njani
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
| Add a comment |
