Head coach Blikkies Groenewald said the most encouraging aspect of UP-Tuks’ ninth consecutive win is that “we did not fall apart in the second half like in the two preceding matches (against Naka Bulle and Centurion in which UP-Tuks scored lesser points than their opponents in the last 40 minutes). We scored three tries in every half which is the trademark of a team that puts a high prize on consistency.”

On Friday (22 July) against Centurion UP-Tuks missed out on a bonus point try win for the very first time this season. To add injury to insult, Centurion outscored UP-Tuks by 4 tries to 3.

UP-Tuks’ tries against TUT were scored by Gerrit Smith (fullback, Back of the Match), Robbie Coetzee (hooker), Emile Tempermann (scrumhalf, Man of the Match), Dabeon Draghoender (inside centre), Jono Janse van Rensburg (No 8) and Karl-Hein Schuld (outside centre). Smith contributed another 14 points with the boot (4 conversions, 2 penalty goals).

Stairs (Sthembiso) Mlongo was named Forward of the Match after another very workmanlike performance at lock.

►Jean Rossouw, who took over as captain from Wesley Dunlop, will not be eligible for selection for the match against Silver Valke on Saturday (30 July) at the TuksRugby Stadium.

Rossouw injured his calf in the match against TUT and will be out of action for at least a week.

Other Tuks results from Tuesday:

Tuks Fezelas bt TUT II 50-8; Tuks Pumas bt TUT III 54-5; Tuks Jongspan bt TUT u.21A 39-38.