UP-Tuks will play Quins-Bobbies (QBR) on 5 August in the 2017 Carlton Cup Final.
This will take place at Loftus Versfeld and be a curtain raiser for the Currie Cup fixture between the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions.
It is the 10th time in the last 11 years that UP-Tuks will contest the final. They last won the most sought after prize in Blue Bulls club rugby in 2015.
UP-Tuks qualified for the 2017 show down with a nail biting 28-27 win against defending champions, Centurion in the semi-final. UP-Tuks had their noses in front at the break (14-13), but shortly after Centurion took the initiative by scoring 14 points in just seven minutes, building up a sizable lead of 27-14.
UP-Tuks kept their cool, however, and retook the lead with only seven minutes to go (28-27). Even bigger drama followed in the last minute when a move from Centurion that started on their own goal line was only stopped just inside the UP-Tuks 22-meter line. This try saving tackle did however result in a penalty being awarded to Centurion as the UP-Tuks tackler deliberately threw the ball over the touch line.
Under any circumstances this would have been a regulation kick for Centurion’s Steven Moir, the top points scorer in the 2017 competition. Fortunately for UP-Tuks Moir succumbed to the immense pressure on him as his attempt went wide of the posts.
Chris Buitendach, UP-Tuks’ Head Coach, hailed his charges for their fighting spirit: “We were in trouble with the score at 27-14, but it was then that our true character of never letting go came through. I am very proud of the guys. It was a spirited effort by all of them.”
UP-Tuks fullback, Abri Reynolds contributed 18 points with a try, two conversions and three penalty goals. UP-Tuks’ other tries were scored by Theuns Reynolds and Damian van Wyk.
Tuks-Fezelas also went through to final by beating QBR 28-20 in the semi-final. Fezelas was down 20-6 with only 7 minutes to go before they went on a scoring spree.
In the 3rd team semi-final Tuks-Pumas were narrowly beaten by their Naka Bulle counterparts (25-24).
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