Ixias regain belief ahead of away clash against FNB UCT

In their opening match FNB CUT were at one point leading 31-14 against the Eagles. The Ixias were dominating, but ended up losing 59-42 at home in Bloemfontein. Despite the loss, there’s a crucial ingredient back in the side - belief.

After a couple of lean years in the competition, the Ixias delivered a spirited performance on Monday night against the two-time champions. The scoreline doesn’t quite reflect how competitive the contest was, with a few soft moments and fixable errors ultimately proving costly.

Tighthead prop Malcolm Lamont, who impressed with a strong outing and a powerful run to the tryline before unfortunately fracturing his ankle, believes the team is in a good space and just needs to sharpen up on the finer details.

“Monday night was a good game, but there are still things we need to fix. That said, the team is better this year and there’s a lot to look forward to,” said the product of Boland Landbou in Wellington.

“The players are really pulling together for this Varsity Cup season - more so than in previous years. The score didn’t tell the full story. It was tight in the first half and we were in front. Small errors - knocks and penalties - disrupted our momentum, and that ultimately cost us.”

Lamont, who has already had a couple of outings with the Cheetahs and is firmly on their radar, added that his game has grown significantly through that exposure.

“My time with the Cheetahs has been massive for me. It changed how I see the game - from attack to set-pieces like scrums and lineouts. There’s a different intensity at training compared to other unions, and it’s really helped my development.”

The Ixias hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Cape Town to face the defending champions, and Lamont is backing his teammates to cause an upset at the Green Mile.

“The boys are ready for Monday. We want to repeat what we did against the Ikeys last year. It won’t be easy, especially at the Green Mile, but this team believes in itself. We’re not here to fight for the bottom four anymore - we’re aiming for the top four.”

Monday’s clash between FNB UCT Ikeys and FNB CUT Ixias in the Mother City kicks off at 19:00.

Log and tickets HERE.