The team from the capital city scored 18 unanswered points to set up yet another final with the six-time champions, Maties, from Stellenbosch.

The Tuks fullback Stefan Coetzee opened the scoring at Shimlas Park in the 4th minute of the game when he landed a penalty. Some four minutes later, Coetzee, scored the opening try of the semi-final, but he was unable to land the conversion.

The Shimlas got on the board three minutes later when the centre, Janco van Heyningen, rounded off a point-of-origin try (seven-point) to put the hosts in the lead for the first time.

On the stroke of the first strategy break the Shimlas captain, Thabang Mahlasi, crashed over for a try which was converted by Litha Nkula.

Coetzee landed another penalty before the Shimlas eighth-man, Ruwald van der Merwe, scored in the 26th minute. This was the home side’s last score of the tournament.

With three minutes to go before half time, the Tuks scrumhalf, Bernard van der Linde, scored a vital try, before Coetzee landed another penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Tuks took control of the game early in the second stanza when the captain, Lincoln Daniels, carved through the Shimlas' defence for his team’s third try.

Coetzee slotted another penalty with 22 minutes to go for what was also the last points in the semi-finals.

Tuks will travel to Stellenbosch next week where they will meet the five-time champions, Maties, in the final. Maties, in their turn, set the record straight from a few weeks ago by thumping the high-flying University of Cape Town Ikeys at the Green Mile in the Mother City. Maties recorded a resounding 58-19 victory over their bitter-rivals to advance to the final.

Monday night’s final at the Danie Craven Stadium will get underway at 19:00.

Scorers:

Shimlas: Tries – Janco van Heyningen (7-point), Thabang Mahlasi, Ruwald van der Merwe Conv. – Litha Nkula 2

Tuks: Tries - Stefan Coetzee, Bernard van der Linde, Lincoln Daniels Conv. – Coetzee  Pen. – Coetzee 4

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport