Rugby
Late UJ onslaught dashes Shimlas semi-final hopes─── 19:17 Mon, 18 Mar 2013
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein – The University of Johannesburg scored three late tries to draw 26-26 with the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup.
UJ started the game in Johannesburg like a house on fire to put the pressure firmly on the shoulders of the Shimlas. They ran the ball from the word go and were rewarded with an early try when Jacques Pretorius went over in the 2nd minute of the game.
For the remainder of the first half UJ dominated the game, in particular with the backs. The forwards laid a solid foundation for the UJ backs, however, the Shimlas matched them upfront. It was a close quarter battle with the UJ forwards punching holes through the Shimlas defence around the fringes.
The Shimlas came out a different team in the second half and turned their fortunes around by scoring three quick tries. Shimlas loosehead Charles Marais in particular played like an extra loose forward with strong ball carries and solid tackling. Marais’ great play was rewarded when he scored a somewhat fortuatious try in the 46th minute.
Man of the Match, Kevin Luiters firmly established the Shimlas lead when he went over for a well rounded off try following a big scrum in which Nick Schoenert slaughtered his opponent.
After the second Strategy Break, UJ came out of nowhere to take control of the game once more and force the Bloemfontein side into defensive mode.
The Shimlas were always under pressure in there red zone as the referee issued a general team warning to earlier in the game.
The referee started going to his pocket in the last three minutes of the game. Shimlas were reduced to 13 men following two yellow cards. One each occasion a card was issued, UJ powered over for a try. Despite the earlier warning, on both occasions one felt the cards may have been a little harsh. The carding also took the contest out of what up until then was a brilliantly contested affair.
Replacement scrumhalf Vian van der Walt scored the last two tries for UJ, with the last one in the 80th minute to draw the game.
UJ have progressed through the semi-finals. Log leaders Maties along with Tuks and NMMU have all booked their spots in the semi-finals. Had decisions in earlier games gone their way, the men from Bloemfontein could have been one of the lucky sides to make the play-offs.
Scorers:
UJ – Tries: Jacques Pretorius, AJ Le Roux, Vian van der Walt (2). Conv. Guy Cronje (2).
Shimlas – Tries: JJ de Klerk, Charles Marais, Kevin Luiters. Conv: Nico Scheepers (3) Pen: Nico Scheepers (1).
Bloemfontein – The University of Johannesburg scored three late tries to draw 26-26 with the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup.
UJ started the game in Johannesburg like a house on fire to put the pressure firmly on the shoulders of the Shimlas. They ran the ball from the word go and were rewarded with an early try when Jacques Pretorius went over in the 2nd minute of the game.
For the remainder of the first half UJ dominated the game, in particular with the backs. The forwards laid a solid foundation for the UJ backs, however, the Shimlas matched them upfront. It was a close quarter battle with the UJ forwards punching holes through the Shimlas defence around the fringes.
The Shimlas came out a different team in the second half and turned their fortunes around by scoring three quick tries. Shimlas loosehead Charles Marais in particular played like an extra loose forward with strong ball carries and solid tackling. Marais’ great play was rewarded when he scored a somewhat fortuatious try in the 46th minute.
Man of the Match, Kevin Luiters firmly established the Shimlas lead when he went over for a well rounded off try following a big scrum in which Nick Schoenert slaughtered his opponent.
After the second Strategy Break, UJ came out of nowhere to take control of the game once more and force the Bloemfontein side into defensive mode.
The Shimlas were always under pressure in there red zone as the referee issued a general team warning to earlier in the game.
The referee started going to his pocket in the last three minutes of the game. Shimlas were reduced to 13 men following two yellow cards. One each occasion a card was issued, UJ powered over for a try. Despite the earlier warning, on both occasions one felt the cards may have been a little harsh. The carding also took the contest out of what up until then was a brilliantly contested affair.
Replacement scrumhalf Vian van der Walt scored the last two tries for UJ, with the last one in the 80th minute to draw the game.
UJ have progressed through the semi-finals. Log leaders Maties along with Tuks and NMMU have all booked their spots in the semi-finals. Had decisions in earlier games gone their way, the men from Bloemfontein could have been one of the lucky sides to make the play-offs.
Scorers:
UJ – Tries: Jacques Pretorius, AJ Le Roux, Vian van der Walt (2). Conv. Guy Cronje (2).
Shimlas – Tries: JJ de Klerk, Charles Marais, Kevin Luiters. Conv: Nico Scheepers (3) Pen: Nico Scheepers (1).
