A bone-chilling Monday evening at the Green Mile did not deter the home side nor their fans from being a part of a sink-or-swim match for the Ikeys. Although Darian Hock slotted a penalty to get the scoreboard ticking, when CUT conceded a penalty in front of their uprights, it was the visitors who dotted over the try-line first with what is guaranteed to be the best interception of the 2019 Varsity Cup season.

Cohen Jasper had everyone surprised when he swooped in and caught a floating pass to run 80 Green Mile metres to earn a seven-point try. With a score of 7-3 in favour of the visitors, it was the first and only time CUT had the lead.

Just after the first strategy break, Ikeys’ winger Lindelwe Zungu responded with a brilliant try in the corner that was then converted by Darian Hock to settle matters at 10-10. Not able to leave Darian Hock out of the action, his accurate boot allowed the Ikey Tigers to head into halftime with a three-point lead.

Early into the second half, Goliath Gary Porter had a seven-point try of his own as the Ikeys’ had been building phase after phase which originated in their own half. A yellow card to UCT Rayno Mapoe did not stop the home side from putting points on the board as James Tedder swiftly dotted past a few defenders to earn their second seven-point try of the night.

CUT’s frustration started building when a handful of calls did not go their way as the ref had some tough decisions to make. This frustration only grew when UCT came searching; with two minutes left on the clock, the Ikeys’ were hunting for their bonus-point victory to remain in the Varsity Cup, and it was Nyasha Tarusenga who did just that! Darian Hock closed play in Cape Town with a further two points to bring the total to 36-10.

Scores

UCT: 36

Tries: Lindelwe Zungu, Gary Porter, James Tedder, Nyasha Tarusenga

Conversion: Darian Hock (3)

Penalty: Darian Hock (2)

Cards: Rayno Mapoe (yellow)

CUT: 10

Tries: Cohen Jasper

Penalty: Heinrich Bitzi

Teams

UCT: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 James Tedder, 12 Robbie Ball, 11 Lindelwe Zungu,  10 Jonty Bredell, 9 William Rose, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (C), 6 Niel Otto, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Devon Arendse.

Replacements: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Ntando Mpofana, 18 Tomasz de Rosenwerth, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Busanda Mabena, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Liam Furniss, 23 Gerrard Pieterse.

CUT: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Dimitrio Tieties, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Marnu Van Nieker, 11 Rassie Breedt, 10 Heinrich Bitzi, 9 Nikky Hattingh, 8 Andre Hanekom, 7 Hardus Nel, 6 Ruan Smit, 5 Rayno Nel (C), 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Tebogo Masemola, 2 Anrich Alberts, 1 Edward Davids.

Replacements: 16 Ruben Cross, 17 Quintin Vorster, 18 Hendrick Smit, 19 Brendon Fortuin, 20 Luvuyo Ndevu, 21 Jaco Wilkinson, 22 Marc Morrison, 23 Karabo Maqeba.

- Varsity Cup