Wits blitz sinks Fort Hare
FNB Wits turned on the style in the second half to power away from FNB Fort Hare in an open Varsity Shield game that the hosts eventually won 58-16 in moist conditions in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Fort Hare right wing Garth van Rayner scored two tries that were both converted, but the home side really hit their straps in the second half and ran in five tries as they left Fort Hare scrambling in their wake.
The visitors took a surprise lead somewhat against the run of play and managed to hold that 8-0 lead until fairly late in the first half as Wits failed to make the most of their opportunities on the slick surface.
The home side eventually got on the scoreboard when left wing Riaan Arends finished off a well-worked move to score under the poles with the conversion drawing the scores level.
Scrumhalf Brent Crossley got over in the corner after a maul, and when flyhalf Kyle Peyper knocked over the touchline conversion Wits had a 16-8 lead.
That was stretched to 21-8 when flank Devin Montgomery showed good awareness following a quick tap and last year's beaten finalists finifhed the first period in contol of the game.
However, Fort Hare struck back straight after the break after Van Rayner got hold of the ball and rounded two Wits defenders to go over for the try of the match. The conversion made it 21-16 to the hosts and it was all to play for at that stage.
That try seemed to be the jumpstart that the Wits team needed and they responded by running in five unanswered tries, with Fort Hare unable to keep up with their high intensity.
Arends got over for his second try after a kick ahead by centre Ryan Odendaal and that was followed up by five-pointers from Charles Baggott, replacement prop Oliver Rochat, Ruan Noeth and Heinke Hartdegen.
Flyhalf Kyle Peyper slotted six out of the eight conversion attempts to hand his side a big bonus-point victory that sees them go past FNB UWC on the Varsity Shield table, although they have played one more game than the team from the Cape Peninsula.
The scorers:
For FNB Wits:
Tries: Arends 2, Crossley, Montgomery, Baggott, Rochat, Noeth, Hartdegen
Cons: Peyper 6
For FNB Fort Hare:
Tries: Van Rayner 2
Cons: Makuru 2
The teams:
Wits: 15 Blake Dismore, 14 Nkululeko Gamede, 13 Bronson Lange, 12 Ryan Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley (vice-captain), 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Devin Montgomery, 6 Peter van Biljon, 5 Charles Baggott, 4 Katlego Ntsie (captain), 3 Phakamili Zuma, 2 Tyrell Tintinger, 1 Juandre Kirkham.
Replacements: 16 Piers Cooper, 17 Oliver Rochat, 18 Ruan Noeth, 19 Sam Peters, 20 Josh Durbach, 21 Heinke Hartdegen, 22 Zunaid Kock, 23 Royal Mwale.
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 Siyabulela Sijula, 18 Mzwandile Yalezo, 19 Bongani Mwahla, 20 Anele Tsiko, 21 Khanyiso Komani, 22 Aziyena Mandaba, 23 Sihle Mtwa.
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Local (TBC), Renier Prinsloo
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