The line-up of the semi-finals of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield has been determined after some scintillating action in the last round-robin matches. FNB UP-Tuks host FNB WSU in Pretoria while FNB Madibaz is at home against debutants FNB Varsity College in Gqeberha. The showdowns take place on Friday 19 April.
FNB UP-TUKS 66 – 24 FNB MADIBAZ
FNB UP-Tuks comprehensively beat FNB Madibaz 66-24 in a top-of-the-table clash at the Tuks Stadium in Pretoria to remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s competition.
The victory ensures the Stripe Generation will return to the FNB Varsity Cup competition next year. Madibaz will play FNB CUT in a promotion/relegation match next month to determine whether they will also take a step up.
Tuks got off to a flaming start with Kobus Janse van Rensburg scoring a brace inside the first ten minutes. His first try came off a powerful scrum before a cheeky piece of individual play led to his second.
The visitors weren’t going to hold back as they responded swiftly with a penalty try that saw Tuks’ Henry Till sent off with a yellow card. Even with a man down, the home side extended their lead through tries by Cayno February and skipper Ethan Burger.
Madibaz displayed some powerful forward play and quick hands saw winger Qurin Cupido fly over in the corner before Kyle Erasmus dotted down from a relentless driving maul to close the gap.
The home side, however, remained unstoppable as scrumhalf Chad-Lee Valentine flew over the try line on the stroke of half-time. The score was 35-17.
Tuks picked up where they left off in the first half and cemented their dominance with back-to-back tries for Henry Till before Burger took his tally to two tries. Hayden Kemp then rubbed salt in their opponent’s wounds with his try.
Madibaz finally got their first second-half try in the last minute with a brilliant run from Leon van der Merwe.
SCORERS
FNB UP-Tuks 66 (35) – Tries: Kobus Janse van Rensburg (2), Cayno February, Ethan Burger (2), Chad-Lee Valentine, Henry Till (2), Hayden Kemp. Conversions: Jean-Pierre Wentzel (8), Kyle Cyster. Penalty: Kyle Cyster.
FNB Madibaz 24 (17) – Tries: Penalty Try, Qurin Cupido, Kyle Erasmus, Leon van der Merwe. Conversions: Kehan Myburgh.
FNB Player That Rocks: Ethan Burger (FNB UP-Tuks)
TEAMS
FNB UP-Tuks: Ethan Lance Burger, Henry Edwin Till, Jacobus Johan Louw, Johannes Wilhelmus Mare, Roald Hattingh, Kamohelo Tlome, Cayno Douglas February, Marco Venter, Chad-Lee Valentine, Jean-Pierre Wentzel, Nqubeko Sbongakonke Mkwanazi, Kobus Janse Van Rensburg, Tharquinn Thane Manuel, Bayanda Sinele Ngubane, Kyle Edward Cyster.
FNB Madibaz: Endinako Kuse, Kyle Erasmus, Sbulelo Roji, Dewald Gerber, Christopher Cikuru Kachungunu, Mzwakhe Kevin Hlupheko, Alwaba Liyema Elam Bobelo, Leon van der Merwe, Mpumelelo Solani Mavuso, Rashied Conrad, Lwando Davane, Troy Delport, Enrique Franks, Qurin Cupido, Kehan Myburgh.
FNB VARSITY COLLEGE 37 – 18 FNB WSU
FNB Varsity College booked themselves a place in the semi-finals in their debut season with a 37-18 victory over FNB WSU at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
In cold and wet weather, it took 18 minutes before the first points were scored with a try by Varsity College wing Sivuyisiwe Mpendu. The visitors’ second try followed soon after when hooker Jacques Marais went over.
WSU flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen was successful with a penalty before dominant forward play by Varsity College led to Abande Mthembu’s five-pointer. Klaasen was in on the action again for WSU when he crossed the whitewash and converted his try.
A try by Rob Everson ensured that Varsity College went into the break 22-10 in the lead.
WSU started the second half with a lot of purpose and this determination paid off when Maxwell was successful with another penalty.
The WSU forward pack sought to gain equal footing with their counterparts and this determination would see them register their second try through left wing Simo Capa.
A try by replacement lock Benjamin Field after a powerful Varsity College pick-and-go saw the visitors extend their lead once again. Drico Marx converted and he later added a penalty to his points tally.
Varsity College repeated the pick-and-go move and it led to flank John Steyl going over and sealing the victory.
SCORERS
FNB Varsity College 37 (22) - Tries: Sivuyisiwe Mpendu, Jacques Marais, Abande Mthembu, Rob Everson, Benjamin Field, John Steyl. Conversions: Drico Marx (2). Penalties: Drico Marx.
FNB WSU 18 (10) - Tries: Maxwell Klaasen, Simo Capa. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen. Penalties: Maxwell Klaasen (2).
FNB Player That Rocks: Mandisi Nkutha (FNB Varsity College)
TEAMS
FNB Varsity College: Daniel Van Huizen, Jacques Marais, Siyabonga Dube, Robert Everson, Werner Coetzee, Juan Steyl, Enzo Van Niekerk, Mandisi Nkutha, Abande Mthembu, Frederick Marx, Nkazimulo Mzolo, Macmillian Mudara, Mbasa Nkonki, Sivuyisiwe Mpendu, Tshegofatso Ramaloko.
FNB WSU: Lwandile Nathi Majozi, Yandisa Myokwana, Dayton Berndt, Kamva Tetani, Lutho Mampunye, Sibulele Manyube, Kwazi Ngwaqa, Sandisiwe Mkwayimba, Lizole Papama Hebe, Maxwell Klaasen, Simosethu Capa, Aviwe Mbuli, Simthembile Zozi, Asisipho Jim, Lisolethu Valisi.
FNB UFH 25 – 19 FNB TUT
Relentless defending by FNB UFH in the final minutes gave them a 25-19 victory over FNB TUT at the TUT Stadium in Pretoria.
In what was a must-win encounter for TUT to prevent them from finishing bottom of the log, the home side opted for points at the start of the match with scrumhalf Aswen Rademeyer kicking over two penalties. The visitors responded with a penalty of their own through Aphiwe Sidloyi’s sharp boot.
Kamvelihle Fatyela then powered his way over the try line for UFH. TUT weren’t to be outdone and Sean-B Tshego responded in kind. A try by winger Okuhle Pangwa and a successful conversion by Rademeyer gave UFH a one-point lead at half-time, 17-16.
In the second half, UFH started dominating and were rewarded with a try thanks to Sinalo Jivana’s quick tap-and-go. He also added a penalty.
Rademeyer reduced the margin with another penalty as TUT piled on the pressure late in the match. Crucial discipline and solid defence however made sure UFH walked away with the victory.
SCORERS
FNB UFH 25 (17) – Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela, Okuhle Pangwa, Sinalo Jivana. Conversions: Aphiwe Sidloyi (2). Penalties: Aphiwe Sidloyi, Sinalo Jivana.
FNB TUT 19 (16) – Tries: Sean-B Tshego. Conversions: Mihlali Bam. Penalties: Aswen Rademeyer (4).
FNB Player That Rocks: Lakheni Majali (FNB UFH)
TEAMS
FNB UFH: Mesuli Sinovuyo Samkele Nzima, Kamvelihle Fatyela, Bulela Magopeni, Cinga Nqotyana, Kamvelihle Gcweka, Anda Simanga, Mpho Kensly Jnr Ramahala, Yanga Gazi, Sinalo Jivana, Apiwe Sidloyi, Okuhle Pangwa, Ryan Kelly Maree, Lakheni Majali, Salusiwe Gxekwa, Cyril Mphatsoe.
FNB TUT: Mxolisi Nzama, Jandre Van Zyl, Makhosana Junior Mashele, Thato Mopedi, Imani Mulongo Nday, Knowledge Chaira, Lutho Tom, Lwazi Dlamini, Aswen Rademeyer, Mihlali Bam, Vuyani Vanqa, Dwayne Zeeland, Sean-B Kagiso Tshego, Junior Malaza, Ayabonga Zakwe.
FNB UKZN 29 – 27 FNB CPUT
It came down to the wire, but in the end, FNB UKZN managed to beat FNB CPUT 29-27 at the Peter Booysen Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
It was the visitors who scored first when Wiehan Kruger fought his way over the try line and converted himself. The Impis responded with a try by Cham Zondeki taking the match to 7-7. This was to be the score until the halfway mark.
It was a bumper-to-bumper second half as both teams were fighting for their lives.
Jarryd Nicholls dotted down for UKZN as he ran away with the ball. For CPUT, Kruger continued his clean kicking on the night when he slotted a penalty about 10 minutes into the second half.
FNB Player That Rocks Thando Cele made his way over the try line for the home team after he carved his way through the defenders to extend the lead of the home team. CPUT kept in touch with another penalty by Kruger.
Yolanda Miya added his name to the board for the Impis’ final try. Kama added the conversion and later on also a penalty.
For CPUT Karen Valentyn scored a brace, his second in the final minute of the match. It was however too little too late as UKZN ran out victors.
SCORERS
FNB UKZN 29 (7) – Tries: Cham Zondeki, Jarryd Nicholls, Thando Cele, Yolanda Miya. Conversions: Khanya Kama (3). Penalties: Khanya Kama.
FNB CPUT 27 (7) – Tries: Wiehan Kruger, Karen Valentyn (2). Conversions: Wiehan Kruger (2), Jayson January. Penalties: Wiehan Kruger (2).
FNB Player That Rocks: Thando Cele (FNB UKZN)
TEAMS
FNB UKZN: Benjamin Maseko, Qhawe Ndabezinhle Praiseworthy Nxumalo, Khanyisani Thabiso Ncube, Yolanda Miya, Sikhona Ndulini, Wela-Aphumele Mnata Takata, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Amahle Dlamini, Thando Sphesihle Cele, Khanya Junior Kama, Cham Zondeki, Russell Adrian Fick, Siso France, Singele Mihlayenkosi Mkhize, Jarryd Nicholls.
FNB CPUT: Emihle Akho Benya, Lihle Lindisipho Kula, Kieran Delaan Naidoo, Ntsako Ashley Mhlanga, Lwando Woji, Duke Somila Shasha, Lungelo Lethukuthula Kubheka, Ayabulela Zono, Jaybee Hayden Filander, Wiehan Kruger, Keenan Williams, Timothy Matthew Shortles, Iwaan Bloys, Linton Shawn Maritz, Keene Munnick.
