FNB UP-Tuks fought back to secure an unlikely 30-30 draw against FNB UJ after trailing 7-20 at the break as the Tuks Rugby Stadium played host to a pulsating Round 8 FNB Varsity Cup match on Monday evening.
It was a match of different outcomes for the respective teams before kick-off as FNB UP-Tuks are looking to avoid relegation while their Gauteng neighbours have their sights set on a possible home semi-final.
The University of Johannesburg struck first in the 3rd minute as they made FNB UP-Tuks pay for an early mistake. Wing Xolisa Guma fumbled a field kick into touch which allowed FNB UJ to set-up a strong lineout drive. No. 8 Wian Conradie was on hand to crash over for the opening try with flyhalf Kobus Engelbrecht adding the extras.
FNB UJ extended their lead four minutes later as Engelbrecht knocked over a penalty goal as the men in black and orange continued to exert pressure on the defending champions in the first ten minutes.
Ill-discipline by the home team kept FNB UJ camped in their half and another lineout drive helped the men from Johannesburg to score their second try as flank James Venter spun out of a tackle to score close to the uprights which made Engelbrecht's conversion a simple one.
The strategy break did FNB UP-Tuks a world of good as outside centre Marnus Potgieter sliced straight through FNB UJ's defensive wall to score a well-earned try. Flyhalf Christo Hamman nailed the conversion to cut the deficit to 11 points.
The University of Pretoria were galvanized into second gear after Potgieter's try as they strung a few good attacking phases together but they were met with frustrating errors as the first half fizzled into back-and-forth between the two teams with the scores unchanged at the break.
FNB UP-Tuks charged out of the blocks when the match resumed but FNB UJ did well to absorb the pressure and turn it into points as wing Odwa Nkunjana touched down in the corner after Conradie floated a fine pass to release the speedster down the touchline. Engelbrecht's boot was yet to disappoint as he kicked his third conversion of the evening.
Hamman had the opportunity to add a penalty goal soon after but his attempt sailed wide in the 54th minute but it was enough as FNB UP-Tuks found themselves with the wind at their sails.
Inside centre Tyler Fisher made a great break despite the home team being down two players after FNB UJ called their Power Play and his break set the men from Pretoria in the right area of the field.
A plethora of penalties by FNB UJ saw the match official eventually having enough as he gave replacement flank Malembe Mpofu a ten minute breather. FNB UP-Tuks setup a lineout and scored through replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar after a stuttered start to their maul. Hamman added the extras.
FNB UP-Tuks seemed to have kept their best for the final moments of the match as a deft field kick was chased down by wing Cameron Hufke who slipped under the cover tackle before scoring a seven-point try. Hamman's conversion made it a four point match.
Engelbrecht gave FNB UJ some breathing room as he sunk a penalty goal but it was all in vain as Grobbelaar bagged his second try of the evening which replacement flyhalf Tinus de Beer converted to end the match at 30 all.
FNB Player That Rocks: Wian Conradie (FNB UJ)
Yellow card: Malembe Mpofu (FNB UJ)
Scorers
FNB UP-Tuks: 30
Tries: Marnus Potgieter, Johan Grobbelaar (2), Cameron Hufke (seven-point)
Conversions: Christo Hamman (4)
FNB UJ: 30
Tries: Wian Conradie, James Venter, Odwa Nkunjana.
Conversions: Kobus Engelbrecht (3)
Penalties: Engelbrecht (3)
Teams
FNB UP-Tuks: 15. Emilio Adonis, 14. Xolisa Guma, 13. Marnus Potgieter, 12. Tyler Fisher, 11. Cameron Hufke, 10. Christo Hamman, 9. Joshua Allderman, 8. Ewart Potgieter, 7. Adre Smith, 6. Eduan Lubbe (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Brian Leitch, 3. Andrew Beerwinkel, 2. Corniel Els, 1. Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Franco van den Berg, 18. Orateng Koikanyang, 19. Stephan Smit, 20. Carlo Engelbrecht, 21. Tinus de Beer, 22. Dewald Naude, 23. Mashoa Mukhari.
FNB UJ: 15. Ronald Brown, 14. Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13. Jan-Louis La Grange, 12. Austin Davids, 11. Odwa Nkunjana, 10. Kobus Engelbrecht, 9 Bradley Thain, 8. Wian Conradie, 7. Adriaan Bester, 6. James Venter, 5. Estian Enslin, 4. Kevin du Randt, 3. Nico du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (c), 1. Sibusiso Lali.
Replacements: 16. Hendrik-Petrus van Schoor, 17. Dillion Bakos, 18. Siyabonga Luwaca, 19. Malembe Mpofu, 20. Johan Esterhuizen, 21. Jeanluc Cilliers, 22. Cyprian Nkomo, 23. Cohen Kiewit.
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