Yes there was revenge for Tukkies and Maties (just), but the spectacular action of the night has to be the last gasp win for the Madibaz over Shimlas!
Monday night’s scores:
TUT 0 Tuks 40
Pukke 12 Maties 14
UJ 29 UCT 15
Shimlas 27 NMMU 29
In the biggest upset in the five-year history of this tournament, the Madibaz beat Shimlas via a last-second André Goosen try in Bloemfontein, as the visitors scored two tries in the final three minutes to pull off an unlikely victory.
Shimlas led 18-5 at half-time, but the Madibaz showed great spirit and resolve throughout and when replacement Bradley Kretzman slotted the winning conversion from the right-hand touchline – the new points-scoring system no doubt playing into NMMU’s hands here! – the Men from Port Elizabeth pulled off the greatest Houdini act in the history of this tournament.
In Potchefstroom Maties, pulled off something of a miracle victory themselves when they beat Pukke courtesy of a late try. With the Maties trailing by 9-12, as they did for the entire second half, replacement hooker Gareth Light rumbled over from a powerful rolling maul in the 79th minute to put his team ahead by 14-12, the first time they led in the match.
Defending champions UCT continued their poor start to the season by failing to register their first log points of the season – going down 29-15 at UJ.
In the day’s first game, Tukkies won their Pretoria derby against TUT by 40-0 – scoring five tries to nil, including a penalty try on the stroke of full-time. Tuks led 8-0 at half-time and scored their four second-half tries in the final thirty minutes against a Vikings side that showed more resistance than the scoreboard would suggest. It was, however, a case of sweet revenge for Tuks who lost at home to TUT in Round Two action last season.
* In what is a fairly damning indictment on club rugby in Kwazulu Natal, UWC put on an impressive display to completely demolish UKZN by 61-10 in Bellville. Not even having a team in the Cup must concern the banana boys, but being hammered like this in the Shield is appalling … The Sharks need to shake a leg …
University Rugby has never been a strong point in KZN and is unlikely to change. KZN does not have the Culture of a strong Live In type University and those that in the unlikely event do go to a local university would most likely not play for it. I can’t remember a single year that a University team won the local Club Championships.
Unlike the WC & N Tvl and the rest, University Rugby Teams in the amateur and professional era have either dominated the Club scene or at least competed for top honours in most years.
I just don’t see how this will change unless they look at possibly playing one of the Academies in this roll.
Yep, you make a good point David … But I like your final suggestion. Much like the WP Institute have teamed up with Paul Roos and Stellenbosch, perhaps the Sharks Acadamy should force their “Students” to enroll at the university and actually play soem rugby … Apart from developing players, the VC now offers a stage for the players to be exposed to a semi pro environment, and thus a great interim step between school and pro rugby … Along with some great exposure for the region!