There is still no end to UP-Tuks 1’s amazing 2018 success story.

On Saturday, 4 August unbeaten UP-Tuks 1 made it to its second final of the season thanks to an emphatic 67-17 win against Quins-Bobbies in the inter-provincial Super League semi-final.

UP-Tuks will take on Naka Bulle in the final on 21 August. Naka, that recently lost to UP-Tuks in the Carlton Cup final, beat Impala in the other Super League semi-final (27-19).

U-Tuks head coach Nico Luus was in two minds when commenting on his team’s performance.
“I am more or less content with the way we played in the second half, but we let ourselves down in the middle part of the first 40 minutes when we relied more on individual skills rather than a cohesive team effort for success. We started splendidly by scoring the first of our ten tries in quick succession and with a lead of 21-0 had them by the throat and should have finished them off there and then.”

“We did not do this but rather gave them the leeway to recover to such an extent that they replied with three tries, one starting with a movement behind their own try line. The fact that we struck back to change sides with a lead of 33-17, made the slump we had less telling but still not acceptable at all. We are too good a team to not make the kill once we have the opportunity to do so. In a final this could be one spoiled chance too many,” said Luus.

UP-Tuks’ performance in the second half was far more structured and disciplined, but it was still not up to the high standards Luus has for his gifted team.

“People will say the coaches are greedy by not being content with 10 tries and a 67-17 win, but we all know to what heights this team can soar. After studying the match again, it became clear that our one and one defence was below par. This instance has little to do with the structure of our defence, but rather with the attitude of the players who have to execute this crucial part of the game plan. We will have to fix this. Another example of where we did not meet the expectations, was the poor work rate of players who are supposed to lead by example,” added Luus.

“That being said, I am still a very proud and grateful coach. I have been given the opportunity to not only coach a very special breed of players, but also be part of an incredibly experienced and knowledgeable management team. We have set the pace from start to finish and are one hurdle away from a dream season. We as a management team will pull out all the stops to end the season on a high note and I have no doubt that the players will follow suit. UP-Tuks will come, see and conquer.”

● Unfortunately for TuksRugby the highly rated Fezelas have lost out on the President League I final after a last minute try by Tuine Grizzlies in the semi-final. Grizzlies won 30-29.

Tuks-Pumas surprised, however, by beating top rated Quins-Bobbies in the President League II semi-final. Tuks will play Naka Bulle in the final.

● UP-Tuks 1 scorers:
Tries by Raegan Oranje (3), WJ Strydom, Lourens Pretorius, Johan Grobler, Stefan Coetzee, Armandt Jordaan, Theuns Reynolds and Hanco Venter.  Steven Moir succeeded with five conversions and a penalty goal whilst Xander Kruger added two conversions.