UWC knock champs down
FNB UWC became the first team to beat Varsity Shield champions FNB CUT this season, running in four tries on their way to an impressive 37-23 victory in Bellville on Monday.
The home side scored three tries in the first half to take an encouraging 25-18 lead into the break and they managed to hold off the second-half challenge from the team from Bloemfontein and move to the top of the 2012 Varsity Shield standings at the halfway stage of the season.
The bonus-point win is a big statement by the team from the Cape Peninsula who are looking more threatening each week, while for the champions it is back to the drawing board as they move down to third on the table.
The home side raced out to an early 13-0 lead thanks to tries from right wing Donavon Williams and flanker Njabulo Ndlovu which left CUT scrambling for answers after the opening exchanges.
Williams was put over the tryline thanks to some quick hands from the UWC centres while Ndlovu was set up by a sniping break from scrumhalf Denzel Willemse.
The defending champions showed their quality by fighting back through flyhalf Jannie Myburgh who converted his own intercept try to add to an earlier penalty and bring his side right back into the game at 13-10.
Two penalties from UWC fullback Ambrose Steyn stretched the home team's lead to 17-10 but that was wiped out when CUT scored their second try through flying right wing Alec Mhlanga who was freed up by a clever skip pass in the 22.
Myburgh's conversion gave CUT the lead for the first time in the match at 18-17 but UWC hit back immediately with a try by outside centre Warwick Rhoda who picked up a loose pass and strolled over unopposed, giving his side the 25-18 advantage that they would take into the half-time break.
UWC secured the bonus point when a string of quick passes put replacement scrumhalf Justin Mckay over the line, and when Ambrose added another penalty CUT looked to be playing for pride at 35-18 down.
The defending champions stuck to their task and they were rewarded when big lock Gavin Annandale crashed over for their third try, but that was to be the end of their scoring on the night and another penalty from Steyn capped a vital win for UWC.
The scorers:
For FNB UWC:
Tries: Williams, Ndlovu, Rhoda, McKay
Cons: Steyn 3
Pens: Steyn 4
For FNB CUT:
Tries: Myburgh, Mhlanga, Annandale
Cons: Myburgh 2
Pen: Myburgh
The teams:
UWC: 15 Ambrose Steyn, 14 Donavon Williams, 13 Warrick Rhoda, 12 Yondela Stampu, 11 Cheslyn Roberts, 10 Frederick Muller, 9 Denzel Willemse, 8 Oswin Mentoor, 7 Samuel Borsah, 6 Njabulo Ndlovu, 5 Juan-Paul Kellerman, 4 Darren Luiters, 3 Denzil Lindoor, 2 Charlton Van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Kelvin De Bruyn.
Replacements: 16 Michael Mkhize, 17 Devon Marthinus, 18 Garth Arendse, 19 Jaycee Jooste, 20 Justin Mckay, 21 Maxwill Andrews, 22 Lubabalo Faleni, 23 Curtis Beukes.
CUT: 15 Noel Marx, 14 Alec Mhlanga, 13 Leon Pretorius, 12 Maphelo Mpondo, 11 Nico Steenkamp, 10 Jannie Myburgh, 9 Inus Kritzinger (captain), 8 Juan Hugo, 7 Frans Sisita, 6 Francois Harvey, 5 Gavin Annandale, 4 Shaun McGeer, 3 Petri Coetzee, 2 Baksteen van Heerden, 1 Rudi Britz.
Replacements: 16 Deon Gouws, 17 Rudie Fuls, 18 Grant Shai, 19 Donavon Ball, 20 Stephan Griesel, 21 Russel van Wyk, 22 Jacques Bussack, 23 Danie van der Merwe.
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
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