Wits hold off desperate Impi
FNB Wits produced a composed performance in difficult conditions to secure an 18-10 Varsity Shield victory over a desperate FNB UKZN in Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
The result sees the UKZN Impi remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the Varsity Shield standings (although they did pick up a first log point), while Wits stay in second place just one log point behind leaders FNB UWC who recorded an impressive win over defending champions CUT in Bellville.
The teams had gone into the half-time break at the Peter Booysen Sports Park deadlocked at 10-10, but the reliable boot of Wits flyhalf Jaco Peyper sunk the hopes of the Impi as he slotted three penalties and a drop-goal in the second half to hand them their third consecutive defeat of the season.
UKZN flyhalf Hanno Botha opened the scoring when he got over for an early try but Wits replied with a penalty from Peyper which made it 5-2 in the presistent rain.
The home side then put themselves in a good position when wing Levi Swartz crossed for their second try to make it 10-2, but that was to be the last time that the Impi troubled the scorers on the night.
Wits drew level before half-time when big lock Rinus Bothma got over near the poles for what would be their only try of the evening, and the game was there for the taking in the second half.
Wits stepped up and showed some great character after the break, taking the lead through Peyper's dead-eye goalkicking and defending manfully as UKZN pressurised them in their own half.
Both sides received yellow cards in the second half with UKZN prop Blake Lourens and Wits replacement Juandre Kirkham both spending time in the sin bin as the teams threw everything they had at each other after half-time.
Wits will be satisfied with the away win and the way they managed to defend their tryline which was under siege by a desperate UKZN side in the second half, whilst the home team will be disappointed with another fruitless effort in front of their home crowd.
The scorers:
For FNB UKZN:
Tries: Botha, Swartz
For FNB Wits:
Tries: Bothma
Cons: Peyper
Pen: Peyper 2, Dismore
DG: Peyper
The teams:
UKZN: 15 Sipho Evans, 14 Levy Swartz, 13 Kurt Mavrodaris, 12 Carl Meyer, 11 Yandisa Mdolomba, 10 Hanno Botha, 9 Jean-Pierre Rudman, 8 Leon Stevens (captain), 7 Lwazi Ncgungama, 6 Robert Warnock, 5 Wayne Le Roux, 4 Gerrit Fourie, 3 Blake Lourens, 2 Justin Meanwell, 1 Luciando Santos.
Replacements: 16 Sizwe Khubeka, 17 Langa Mahaye, 18 Sabelo Tshabalala, 19 Zwela Zondi, 20 Ruhan Smit, 21 Gareth Melle, 22 Richard Hayworth, 23 Monaheng Sililo.
Wits: 15 Blake Dismore, 14 Zunaid Kock, 13 Heinke Hartdegen, 12 Rudolf Prinsloo, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Devin Montgomery (captain), 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Brendan Whyte, 4 Rinus Bothma, 3 Oliver Rochat, 2 Piers Cooper, 1 Katlego Kgame.
Replacements: 16 Tyrell Tintinger, 17 Phakamulumuzi Zuma, 18 Charles Baggott, 19 Petrus van Biljon, 20 Josh Durbach, 21 Bronson Lange, 22 Andrew Keightley-Smith, 23 Juandre Kirkham.
Referee: Lusanda Jam
Assistant referees: Tony Correia, Local (TBC)
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