Nollis Marais, UP-Tuks 1 head coach, said his team again did not play to their potential, but still did enough to secure a comfortable victory.

“Five tries to two tells a tale of its own, but I agree that we lose focus too easily. Other than in the Varsity Cup competition, where the adrenaline spiking hype and big name opponents are all you need to get motivated, our players taking part in the Carlton Cup for the first time do experience difficulties in adapting to the challenges set by a completely different series. It is not easy to get worked up for a Carlton Cup match taking place in front of 200 spectators and in which you can be at half pace and still win,” said Marais.

“Our single biggest shortcoming is that we do not keep to the game plane clinically enough and rather play unstructured rugby with the consequent 50/50 passes, bad decision making and even worse handling. A well drilled team like UP-Tuks 1 is not supposed to make so many basic mistakes. It’s just not on. I know it, the players know it,” commented Marais, who will be in charge for the last time on Friday in the Lucas Strachan Shield ‘final’ against Police.

UP-Tuks 1’s tries were scored by Fanie Booysen (2), Donnovan Marais, Hayden Groepes and Clayton Stewart. Wesley Dunlop contributed 11 points with four conversions and a penalty goal, whilst JC Roos converted the last try of the match.

Other Tuks results:

2: Tuks Fezelas 67, Silver Valke 7; 3: Tuks Pumas 71, Silver Valke 0; u.21: Tuks Jongspan wins by default against Silver Valke A; Police A 29, Tuks A 17.