Rugby
John Mitchell praises brave UKZN Impi─── 12:00 Tue, 01 Apr 2014
Lee Khotlele
Bloemfontein - University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Impi coach, John Mitchell, praised his side’s determination throughout the season regardless of their loss to Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State’s Ixias in the Varsity Shield final on Monday evening.
CUT Ixias crashed Impi 35-26, not only to retain their title, but also get promoted to the Varsity Cup.
The former All Blacks and Lions mentor told OFM Sport that his team did fight back; however, the Ixias were just too good.
“The team played well. We were a bit under pressure, but got ourselves back in the match, and that was fantastic,” said Mitchell.
“Credit must go to CUT; they played a fantastic game of rugby and they deservingly got what they wanted,” he added.
In the Cup, CUT replace Wits, who have been relegated to the Shield after finishing bottom on the log with only three points in seven matches.
In spite of the loss, UKZN Impi, who appeared in the Shield final for the first time, will travel to Gauteng to face University of Johannesburg (UJ), who finished second from bottom, in the promotion/relegation play-off for a possible place in the Varsity Cup.
Mitchell said against UJ they would have to continue the way they have been playing.
Bloemfontein - University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Impi coach, John Mitchell, praised his side’s determination throughout the season regardless of their loss to Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State’s Ixias in the Varsity Shield final on Monday evening.
CUT Ixias crashed Impi 35-26, not only to retain their title, but also get promoted to the Varsity Cup.
The former All Blacks and Lions mentor told OFM Sport that his team did fight back; however, the Ixias were just too good.
“The team played well. We were a bit under pressure, but got ourselves back in the match, and that was fantastic,” said Mitchell.
“Credit must go to CUT; they played a fantastic game of rugby and they deservingly got what they wanted,” he added.
In the Cup, CUT replace Wits, who have been relegated to the Shield after finishing bottom on the log with only three points in seven matches.
In spite of the loss, UKZN Impi, who appeared in the Shield final for the first time, will travel to Gauteng to face University of Johannesburg (UJ), who finished second from bottom, in the promotion/relegation play-off for a possible place in the Varsity Cup.
Mitchell said against UJ they would have to continue the way they have been playing.
The former All Blacks player highlighted UKZN Impi, who finished second on the log with 26 points, had a fantastic season and, therefore, he would love to see them in the Cup.
