Rugby
Ikeys expose Shimlas discipline in Varsity Cup opener─── MORGAN PIEK 08:13 Tue, 20 Feb 2024
“Our boys fought in the end, I thought we were very poor between minutes 40 and 60, but we fought nicely in the backend, which I thought was great. I'm not particularly happy with the performance, but happy with the result.”
The University of Cape Town Ikeys were the first out of the blocks in the 2024 Varsity Cup with a hard-fought win over an ill-disciplined University of the Free State Shimlas in Bloemfontein on Monday.
The Ikey exposed the Shimlas discipline and took their opportunities to get points on the board by landing seven penalties in their 38-32 win at Shimla Park.
The Shimlas scored first half tries through Riaan van der Merwe, Kwezi Dlamini and Zane Bester, but the team from the Mother City held a 21-10 lead at the half time break through ties by Taariq Kruger and Siphumezo Dyonase, while the winger, Ntokozo Makhaza, sent three penalties through the uprights.
Ethan Wentzel and Jandré Nel managed to score tries for the home team in the second stanza and this put them in the lead. However, a try by Rethabile Louw and a further four penalties by Makhaza saw the visitors claim the honours, albeit it without a bonus point.
The Ikey coach, Tom Dawson-Squibb, told OFM Sport that he was happy with the result, but not his team's performance.
“The Shimlas are tough, geez they are a tough team to play in Bloemfontein, so well done to them,” said Dawson-Squibb.
“Yesterday I joked with our kicker Ntokozo Makhaza and asked him what his range is. He said 50 metres. Today in the warm-ups I said to him that he missed one so it's 45 metres. He said, ja it’s 45, in the game he knocked them over from more than 45 and I think he kicked outstandingly.
“Our boys fought in the end, I thought we were very poor between minutes 40 and 60, but we fought nicely in the backend, which I thought was great.
“I'm not particularly happy with the performance, but happy with the result.”
In Monday’s other games, the CUT Ixias kicked off their campaign on a high with a 23-19 win against UJ, while in Stellenbosch the NWU Eagles beat the Maties 23-12 and in Bellville, Wits thumped UWC 66-10.
Scorers:
UFS Shimlas: Tries – Riaan van der Merwe, Kwezi Dlamini, Zane Bester, Ethan Wentzel, Jandré Nel Conv – Ethan Wentzel 2 Pen. – Bradley Giddy
UCT Ikeys: Tries - Taariq Kruger, Siphumezo Dyonase, Rethabile Louw Conv. - Ntokozo Makhaza Pen. – Makhaza 7
