“We can only blame ourselves.”
That is the opinion of Denzil Hill (captain) after UP-Tuks lost to Shimlas on Monday night in their first Varsity Cup encounter at the Tuks Rugby Stadium. The final score was 19-17.
“It is not the result we wanted. But we said beforehand we are not worried about chasing results. The goal was to execute the strategies we practiced during training to perfection. We failed to do so. That is the disappointment I take from the game. I honestly feel that we had so many opportunities to do score, but we could not make it count.”
Hill refused to blame the heavy downpour during the game for the result.
“We knew already from last week that there was a real chance that it was going to rain and we prepared for it. Shimlas managed to adapt to the wet conditions and control the game. We were only able to dominate in the first few minutes and towards the end of the game.
“There is no getting away from it. Our play in the middle part of the game was not up to standard. I won’t say it was a bad day at the office. Our biggest problem was that we tended as a team to lose our concentration at critical moments. Shimlas made us pay for it. If we can remain focused for the whole 80 minutes we will be a great team.”
UP-Tuks was the first to score. In the 18th minute, Tinus de Beer made no mistake as his pinpoint kick landed straight into the hands of wing Xolisa Guma who merely dotted the ball down for the opening try of the season.
Shimlas struck back soon after the first strategy break as wing Gideon Agenbag stormed down the touchline to score a seven-point try. Flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela was on hand to convert the try.
The visitors used the first half to establish themselves as 11 players in their match day squad made their FNB Varsity Cup debuts against the defending champions, but it was in the second half where they truly shone.
Shimlas increased their lead within five minutes of the restart as flank Benjamin Janse van Vuuren crashed over in the corner for a converted try as the teams.
Toko Seerane scored UP-Tuks second try with Hill going over for a consolation try in the dying minutes. De Beer converted.
UP-Tuks’s play away against Wits on Monday.
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