The experience of FNB UP-Tuks proved too much for debutants FNB Varsity College in their round 4 encounter of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition. FNB Madibaz maintained their unbeaten streak with a hard-fought victory over FNB WSU while FNB UKZN and FNB UFH scored their first victories when they respectively beat FNB TUT and FNB CPUT.
FNB UP-TUKS 75 – 21 FNB VARSITY COLLEGE
All eyes were on Pretoria for the much-anticipated top-of-the-log clash between FNB UP-Tuks and FNB Varsity College but in the end, the former FNB Varsity Cup champions ran in 11 tries to thoroughly beat the debutants 75-21.
The home side were the first to open the scoreboard through winger Bayanda Ngubane who crossed over in the corner. The visitors responded with back-to-back tries through Jacques Theron du Toit Marais and Abanda Mthembu to take a 14-7 lead.
Tries from eight-man Marco Venter and skipper Ethan Burger secured Tuks a bonus point. The Striped Generation’s forwards continued their dominance when Henry Till added another five-pointer on the stroke of halftime. Tuks flyhalf Jean Pierre Wentzel made no mistake from the tee converting all of Tuks' tries to give the Pretoria outfit a healthy 35-14 lead at the break.
The home side picked up where they left off when Till completed his brace when the players returned to the field.
Tuks were reduced to 14 men when captain Ethan Burger was sent to the sin bin.
Chad-Lee Valentine made it try number seven for Tuks before Varsity College registered their third through Mbasa Nkonki.
Tuks’ party continued in the one-sided affair as tries by Cayno February, Dillon Smith, Kamohelo Tlome and Jacobus Louw pushed the scoreline to 75.
Wentzel missed only one of his eight conversions and this clinical kicking performance earned him the Player That Rocks award. Kyle Cyster was successful with his three conversions.
SCORERS
FNB UP-Tuks 75 (35) – Tries: Bayanda Ngubane, Marco Venter, Johannes Marè, Ethan Burger, Henry Till (2), Chad-Lee Valentine, Cayno February, Dillon Smith, Kamohelo Tlome, Jacobus Louw. Conversions: Jean-Pierre Wentzel (7). Conversions: Kyle Cyster (3).
FNB Varsity College 21 (14) – Tries: Jacques Theron du Toit Marais, Abande Mpumelelo Mthembu, Mbasi Nkonki. Conversions: Frederick Marx (3).
FNB Player That Rocks: Jean-Pierre Wentzel (FNB UP-Tuks)
FNB UP-Tuks: Ethan Lance Burger, Henry Edwin Till, Dian Stephan Coetzee, Johannes Wilhelmus Marè, Cayno Douglas February, Kamohelo Tlome, Hilton Gie, Marco Venter, Chad-Lee Valentine, Jean-Pierre Wentzel, Nqubeko Sbongakonke Mkwanazi, Keane Romaine Galant, Zander Reynders, Bayanda Ngubane Ngubane, Tharquinn Thane Manuel.
FNB Varsity College: Daniel Van Huizen, Jacques Theron du Toit Marais, Siyabonga Luyanda Dube, Garren Müller, Werner Johan Coetzee, Thendo Eric Junior Netshidzati, Sinelifa Mmangaliso Ncwana, Juan Orde Steyl, Abande Mpumelelo Mthembu, Frederick Nicolaas Marx, Tshegofatso Ramaloko, Macmillian Zvikomborero Mudara, Mbasa Nkonki, Sivuyisiwe Mpendu, Luke Christopher Horak.
FNB MADIBAZ 29 – 18 FNB WSU
FNB Madibaz came into the fixture with three out of three full of confidence, but FNB WSU made them work hard for their 29-18 victory in Gqeberha.
The visitors matched the home team up front for large parts of the game and WSU’s backline was simply electrifying at times.
WSU centre Awonke Sondishe had a stormer in the midfield and his yellow card later in the match put a huge dent in his side’s chances of springing an upset on the road.
While Madibaz led throughout, their opponents were never far behind on the scoreboard. The difference between the teams was ultimately the ability of the men from the Bay to bounce back every time WSU scored.
Flank Mzwakhe Hlupheko was massive at the breakdown and deserved all the credit that came his way.
The Gqeberha students will be happy to take the log points but will acknowledge the visitors exposed a few weaknesses they will need to work on in the coming weeks.
SCORERS
FNB Madibaz 29 (10) – Tries: Penalty try, Janco van der Walt, Ourin Cupido, Tlhalefo Moleko. Conversions: Kehan Myburgh (2). Penalties: Kehan Myburgh.
FNB WSU 18 (0) – Tries: Sinethemba Zwelonke, Simthembile Zozi. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen. Penalties: Maxwell Klaasen (2).
FNB Player That Rocks: Mzwakhe Hlupheko (FNB Madibaz)
FNB Madibaz: Endinako Kuse, Kyle Erasmus, Andries Johannes Flemming, Dewald Gerber, Mekyle Recodin Solomon, Mzwakhe Kevin Hlupheko, De Wet Goedhals, Leon van der Merwe, Mpumelelo Solani Mavuso, Raashied Conrad, Kehan Myburgh, Troy Delport, Janco Albert van der Walt, Qurin Cupido, Bryce Sven Collins.
FNB WSU: Sinethemba Zwelonke, Mangaliso Zixesha, Ayabonga Masivuye Spelt, Kamva Tetani, Hlomla Mihlali Payi, Sibulele Manyube, Pernell Mervian Mandes, Esethu Zenani, Thembela Folo, Maxwell Curtley Klaasen, Bulelani Amyoli Nondlwana, Hlumelo Zitha, Awonke Sondishe, Beon Frendel Hartnick, Lukhangele Tshayi.
FNB UKZN 41 – 5 FNB TUT
FNB UKZN overcame a slow first half to score their first win of the competition when they beat FNB TUT 41-5 in Durban.
It was the home team who made their early pressure pay off after a strong driving maul was finished off by hooker Sikhona Ndulini who dove over for an unconverted try. TUT were quick to respond when Kgomotso Maribana fought his way over the try line past a stubborn defence.
The visitors tried to find their way through, but the Impis’ defence denied them time after time. With their superb defending and clean kicking from Khanya Kama who added two penalties, the home team took an 11-5 lead at half-time.
After the break, UKZN returned to the field in high spirits as Siso France finished off a perfect team to add his name to the try scorers.
It was the Kama show as he added two more penalties, converted Tino Mazindhu’s try and thereafter got a try of his own that he converted. It was a convincing bonus-point victory for UKZN.
SCORERS
FNB UKZN 41 (11) – Tries: Sikhona Ndulini, Siso France, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Khanya Kama. Conversions: Khanya Kama (3). Penalties: Khanya Kama (5).
FNB TUT 5 (5) – Tries: Kgomotso Maribana.
FNB Player That Rocks: Khanya Kama (FNB UKZN)
FNB UKZN: Benjamin Maseko, Sikhona Cebolenkosi Ndulini, Ulrich Cameron Walker, Wilhelm Fenske, Nhlakanipho Ntando Hleloluhle Mathonsi, Wela-Aphumele Mnata Takata, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Siphesihle Dlamini, Thando Sphesihle Cele, Khanya Junior Kama, Thato Tshepang Matsoso, Siso France, Singele Mkhize, Jarryd Nicholls, Cham Zondeki.
FNB TUT: Mxolisi Innocent Nzama, Jandre van Zyl, Lawrence Nong, Lwazi Lwandile Dlamini, Thato Mopedi, Ajay Lottering, Knowledge Chaira, Kgomotso Samuel Chuene Maribana, Buhlebuyeza Sthandwa Tebogo Ndunakazi, Mihlali Sipho Bam, Shandon Manuel Botha, Josh Sandile Robinson, Mauritz Maritz, Vuyani Vanqa, Ayabonga Thokozani Zakwe.
FNB UFH 22 – 17 FNB CPUT
FNB UFH scored their first victory of the competition and got out of the last position on the log when they beat FNB CPUT 22-17 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
It only took seven minutes for the home team to crack through the opposition’s defence when prop
Bulela Magopeni crossed over for a try that was duly converted by flyhalf Aphiwe Sidloyi.
Twenty minutes later the Blues doubled their score through the combination of scrumhalf Sinalo Jivana’s try and Sidloy’s conversion. The former champions piled on the pressure resulting in a try for lock Singa Nqotyana and UFH headed into the break 19-0 in the lead.
Sidloyi added the first points of the second half to the scoreboard with a penalty for the Blues.
CPUT finally got off the mark when Danielle Padiachy got one back for the Cape side. Keewan Titus added the extra two points.
Titus slotted a three-pointer as the visitors started to gain momentum with fewer errors in their general gameplay. The comeback was well and truly on when Padiachy got his brace and Titus converted to close the gap to just five points.
The first-half onslaught by UFH in the end however proved a bridge too far and CPUT had to settle for the loss.
SCORERS
FNB UFH 22 (19) – Tries: Bulela Magopeni, Sinalo Jivana, Singa Nqotyana. Conversions: Apiwe Sidloyi (2). Penalties: Apiwe Sidloyi.
FNB CPUT 17 (0) – Tries: Danielle Padiachy (2). Conversions: Keewan Titus (2). Penalties: Keewan Titus.
FNB Player That Rocks: Apiwe Sidloyi (FNB UFH)
FNB CPUT: Emihle Akho Benya, Kéran Jayson Valentyn, Kieran Delaan Naidoo, Ntsako Ashley Mhlanga, Keanan Benjamin Odwa Rolosi, Duke Somila Shasha, Lwando Woji, Ayabulela Zono, Jayson January, Keewan Titus, Keenan Williams, Timothy Matthew Shortles, Iwaan Bloys, Danielle Israel Padiachy, Keene Munnick.
FNB UFH: Mesuli Sinovuyo Samkele Nzima, Kamvelihle Fatyela, Bulela Magopeni, Mpho Kensly Jnr Ramahala, Cinga Nqotyana, Anda Simanga, Kamvelihle Gcweka, Yanga Gazi, Sinalo Jivana, Apiwe Sidloyi, Okuhle Pangwa, Ryan Kelly Maree, Lakheni Majali, Bulumko Mfundisi, Cyril Mphatsoe.
