Brache's try, converted by UCT flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, put UCT ahead by 19-17 - the first time they had held the lead since the fourth minute - and it was enough to see the Capetonians hold out and deny Tuks that home semifinal.

It could have been worse, however, had the FNB Maties not lost to FNB UJ - a result which allowed Tuks to sneak into the play-offs, which now sees them taking on the top-of-the-log FNB UJ.

Tuks head coach Nollis Marais commented: "The referee (Rasta) made mistakes, but who on a rugby field doesn't?

"It is most unfortunate that he awarded their only try despite a clear forward pass in the preceding movement, but I would like to believe that this oversight was not due to any malice on his part."

Marais added that Tuks should rather do some serious soul-searching as "we had more than enough chances to secure a convincing victory".

"The fact is that we did not finish well enough and conceded far too many penalties at the breakdown points," he told varsitycup.co.za. "We, rather than Rasta, were our own worst enemies."

Marais said Tuks would have to address their lack of discipline as a matter of urgency as "we will not reach the final if we again concede twice as many penalties as our opponents, UJ, in the semifinals (on March 28)".

"The trademark of any good team should after all be to not be caught off-guard by things they can't control, like for instance the referee's interpretation and application of the laws of the game," he added.

"We will have to adapt faster and better to the style of the referee. In so doing, we will secure more time and energy to get the game plan into overdrive mode."

Marais said the most frustrating aspect of Tuks defeat against Ikeys "was that we scored three tries to one".

"These statistics," he continued, "should under normal circumstances be applicable to the winning rather than the losing side."