Rugby
Oupa inspires Shimlas win─── 06:52 Tue, 05 Mar 2013
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein. - Do-or-die was the order of the day when the Shimlas beat their fierce rivals the Pukke 38 – 18 in a thrilling Varsity Cup match at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein last night.
Having lost three matches in a row in the Varsity Cup, Michael Horak’s men went into the game feeling the pressure to keep their hopes alive in the competition.
The first twenty minutes of the game, the Shimlas were forced to make a lot tackles and found themselves defending their line on numerous occasions.
At the break down the men from Potchefstroom were able to turnover a lot of Shimla ball in the first half and one got the feeling it could be costly.
Two first half penalties saw the Shimlas take an early lead in the game. This was complemented by an Oupa Mohoje try which was converted. This saw the home side into the half time break with a 12 – 0 lead. On the stroke of half time the Shimlas were reduced to fourteen men when Pieter-Steyn de Wet received a yellow card for entering the ruck from the wrong side.
The Pukke struck early when SW Oosthuizen went over for an outstanding try which was converted. Somehow this try shifted the Shimlas into overdrive. Two minutes later scrumhalf Renier Botha went over to score the Shimlas second try.
The Shimlas backline seemed to be unstoppable. Robbie van Schalkwyk and Pieter-Steyn de Wet combined incredibly well throughout the game, thus creating a lot of space for the Shimlas out wide.
Maphutha Dolo went over for the Shimlas in the corner followed a few minutes later by Nico Scheepers, who scored the bonus point try.
Pieter-Steyn de Wet scored the Shimlas fifth try when he went over after another brilliant passage of play.
Two late tries by the Pukke gave the visitors some consolation after a thrilling, yet bruising encounter.
The Shimlas victory came at a price with Schalk “Hond” van der Merwe injuring his ankle. The extent of his injury is still unknown. However, the Shimlas team management said it’s not looking good.
Shimlas captain Oupa Mohoje won the Man of the Match.
Scorers:
Shimlas 38 (12) Tries: Oupa Mohoje, Renier Botha, Maphutha Dolo, Nico Scheepers, Pieter-Steyn de Wet; Conv: Nico Scheepers 3; Pen: Nico Scheepers 2.
Pukke 18 (0) Tries: SW Oosthuizen, Hoffman Maritz, Sylvain Mahuza; Conv: Gerhard Nortier.
Varsity Cup Results:
• Ikeys 15 vs Maties
• NMMU 20 vs UJ 13
• Tuks 52 vs Wits 0
Varsity Shield Results:
• UKZN 10 vs TUT 9
• UWC 40 vs CUT 49
Bloemfontein. - Do-or-die was the order of the day when the Shimlas beat their fierce rivals the Pukke 38 – 18 in a thrilling Varsity Cup match at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein last night.
Having lost three matches in a row in the Varsity Cup, Michael Horak’s men went into the game feeling the pressure to keep their hopes alive in the competition.
The first twenty minutes of the game, the Shimlas were forced to make a lot tackles and found themselves defending their line on numerous occasions.
At the break down the men from Potchefstroom were able to turnover a lot of Shimla ball in the first half and one got the feeling it could be costly.
Two first half penalties saw the Shimlas take an early lead in the game. This was complemented by an Oupa Mohoje try which was converted. This saw the home side into the half time break with a 12 – 0 lead. On the stroke of half time the Shimlas were reduced to fourteen men when Pieter-Steyn de Wet received a yellow card for entering the ruck from the wrong side.
The Pukke struck early when SW Oosthuizen went over for an outstanding try which was converted. Somehow this try shifted the Shimlas into overdrive. Two minutes later scrumhalf Renier Botha went over to score the Shimlas second try.
The Shimlas backline seemed to be unstoppable. Robbie van Schalkwyk and Pieter-Steyn de Wet combined incredibly well throughout the game, thus creating a lot of space for the Shimlas out wide.
Maphutha Dolo went over for the Shimlas in the corner followed a few minutes later by Nico Scheepers, who scored the bonus point try.
Pieter-Steyn de Wet scored the Shimlas fifth try when he went over after another brilliant passage of play.
Two late tries by the Pukke gave the visitors some consolation after a thrilling, yet bruising encounter.
The Shimlas victory came at a price with Schalk “Hond” van der Merwe injuring his ankle. The extent of his injury is still unknown. However, the Shimlas team management said it’s not looking good.
Shimlas captain Oupa Mohoje won the Man of the Match.
Scorers:
Shimlas 38 (12) Tries: Oupa Mohoje, Renier Botha, Maphutha Dolo, Nico Scheepers, Pieter-Steyn de Wet; Conv: Nico Scheepers 3; Pen: Nico Scheepers 2.
Pukke 18 (0) Tries: SW Oosthuizen, Hoffman Maritz, Sylvain Mahuza; Conv: Gerhard Nortier.
Varsity Cup Results:
• Ikeys 15 vs Maties
• NMMU 20 vs UJ 13
• Tuks 52 vs Wits 0
Varsity Shield Results:
• UKZN 10 vs TUT 9
• UWC 40 vs CUT 49
