Wits back on top
- By Alumni
Wits fought back to beat CUT 26-22 and replace them at the top of the Varsity Shield log whilst Fort Hare held off UKZN to win 28-22 in Alice on Monday night.
Wits went into the break in Bloemfontein 8-12 down after CUT fullback Andre le Roux had punished them with four successful goal kicks.
However, the visitors drew first blood in the second period through a penalty to flyhalf Clayton Redford which made it 12-11 to CUT. Wits then hit the lead through a try to their scrumhalf Brent Crossley which was successfully converted by Redford.
CUT hit back with a try to their inside centre Maphelo Mpondo and the conversion gave them a one-point lead in this tense match between the two top teams in the Varsity Shield.
Wits took the lead back in the see-saw battle when their inside centre Rudolf Prinsloo kicked a penalty and the win was sealed by an unconverted try by left-wing Riaan Arends.
The victory puts Wits on top of the log but CUT has a game in hand as they face UKZN in Pietermaritzburg in next week in the final round of fixtures before the play-off.
In Alice, Fort Hare took an early lead thanks to a try to their lock Sokhana Mkona and a penalty shortly afterwards from flyhalf Saneliso Ngoma.
UKZN got back into the game thanks to the steady boot of their fullback Jaco Potgieter who scored all of their points on the night, and when Potgieter converted his own try the visitors had the lead at 13-8.
Fort Hare hit back through a try to flying right wing Vuyo Mboto and replacement flyhalf Qondani Katywa was there to add the extras which made it 16-15 to UKZN.
Katywa continued his good work by kicking a penalty and then putting over a drop-goal to put his team in control.
Fort Hare scored a late try after a clearance kick was charged down and once Katywa kicked the conversion the game was sealed.
The home side held on for their second victory of the season and they move past UKZN on the Varsity Shield log.
The team from Pietermaritzburg now occupy last place and they will want to do something about that when they face CUT at home next week Monday.
Scorers:
CUT: Try: Maphelo Mpondo. Conversion: André le Roux. Penalties: Le Roux (5).
Wits: Tries: Rudolf Prinsloo, Brent Crossley, Riaan Arends. Conversions: Clayton Redford. Penalties: Redford (2), Brendan Lizamore
Fort Hare: Tries: Sokana Mkona, Vuyo Mboto, TBC. Conversions: Qondani Katywa (2). Penalties: Saneliso Ngoma, Katywa. DG: Katywa
UKZN: Try: Jaco Potgieter. Conversion: Potgieter. Pensalties: Potgieter (5).