Rugby
Shimlas hold off Ixias comeback─── MORGAN PIEK 07:55 Tue, 19 Mar 2024
“We had a brilliant first half, and then in the second half we made it extremely difficult for ourselves through our discipline and not coming away with points in our 22m entries.”
The University of the Free State Shimlas recorded their fourth straight win in the Varsity Cup, and the bragging rights win a hard-earned 59-40 victory against the Central University of Technology Ixias.
The Shimlas led the Bloemfontein derby 43-7 at half time, but a massive fightback by the Ixias nearly saw them upsetting the apple cart.
The Shimlas totally dominated the first half in every aspect of the game and it led to Zane Bester going for two seven-point tries, while they also earned a penalty try and the winger, Siviwe Zondani, crossed the whitewash.
A try for the Ixias tighthead prop, Sisipho Nofuya, just before half-time saw them mount their comeback effort.
In the second half the Ixias were a different beast and tries by Janco Cloete, Adielson Gouveia, Juan Smith, Asekho Marubelela, Tiaan Naudé saw them inch to within ten points of the Shimlas.
The Shimlas captain, Neel Volschenk, however had the last say with a seven-point try to seal the win.
Volschenk told OFM Sport that they made it difficult for themselves, but they are happy with the five-points.
“We had a brilliant first half, and then in the second half we made it extremely difficult for ourselves through our discipline and not coming away with points in our 22m entries,” said Volschenk.
“It obviously also makes it hard when you are playing with 13-men. It was not easy, but I'm extremely privileged to play with talented and hard-working boys in our team.
“We pulled it through, we've put this game in the bag and now we'll focus on the next one.
Meanwhile, the match between UJ and the NWU Eagles was called off after 34 minutes due to heavy rain. The Eagles were leading 19-7 at that stage. The match has been rescheduled for Tuesday morning at 10:00.
In Monday’s other games, Maties thumped UWC 63-14 in Bellville, while Wits and UCT played to a 33-33 draw in Johannesburg.
Shimlas: Tries - Jandré Nel, Zane Bester 2, Penalty Try, Siviwe Zondani, Ethan Wentzel, Neels Volschenk Conv. - Wentzel 6.
CUT: Tries - Sisipho Nofuya, Janco Cloete, Adielson Gouveia, Juan Smith, Asekho Marubelela, Tiaan Naudé Conv. - Juan Smith 3.
Morgan Piek OFM Sport
