CUT Ixias target first win in crucial relegation battle in Durban

The FNB CUT Ixias see Monday night’s clash as a golden opportunity to finally break their duck in the FNB Varsity Cup when they take on the newcomers, FNB Emeries, in Durban.

It’s a massive game for both sides. Neither team has managed to secure a victory in the opening four rounds of the competition, meaning Monday’s result could play a crucial role in determining who avoids finishing at the bottom of the log and the looming threat of relegation. With so much at stake, the intensity is expected to be high.

The Ixias have shown flashes of their potential during the campaign, but those moments have been too few and far between to make a sustained impact. For the Bloemfontein outfit, the key now will be producing a complete 80-minute performance.

Scrumhalf Raydon Swartbooi, one of the more experienced players in the side, believes the team must build on the positives they have shown so far and bring everything together against Emeris.

“Monday’s match against Varsity College in Durban is going to be a very important one. They are, like us, in the same boat, so it’s definitely not a game we are taking lightly,” said Swartbooi.

“Our focus is on preparation. In previous games we saw that things which worked for us during the week didn’t always come together on match day. Now it’s about putting everything together and delivering a good, all-round performance. We need to put the puzzle pieces together and play a full 80 minutes of good rugby. That’s something we felt we were missing a bit in the previous game.”

Swartbooi, the younger brother of Xavier Swartbooi - a FNB CUT rugby legend who now plays for SWD in the SA Cup - said the squad fully understands the gravity of their situation and the importance of getting their first win on the board.

“This is a big match for us and we don’t want to leave CUT in a difficult position. The next few games are very important for the team. We all know how big this game is. That’s where experience will come in. We might not have a lot of it, but the experience we do have will need to show when it matters. We’ll have to put our hands up and show what we can do. It’s going to be a big one.”

Monday night’s first-ever clash between FNB Emeries and the Ixias at Varsity College Durban North kicks off at 19:00.