Staff Reporter
Monday’s heavy downpour did nothing to stop the match between the University of Free State’s Shimlas and the Tuks from the University of Pretoria as the hosts literally ran on water and booked their place in the Varsity Cup semi-finals.
According to KovsieSport, it took a try in the 79th minute by the replacement Kwezi Dlamini to secure the victory, as the Shimlas claimed their first Tuks win in four years.
Even in trying conditions the Shimlas stuck to their running style of play to beat the defending champions 26-15 at Shimla Park at the Bloemfontein campus.
It was largely thanks to a superb first half where the Shimlas ran the visitors off their feet and were leading 19-3 at the break.
The centre Jooste Nel opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a great move close to the try line.
The home team was leading 19-3 after 34 minutes when play was suddenly stopped with lightning approaching.
This could have been the worst outcome for the Shimlas as a result only counted after 40 minutes are played.
It was the second time this season that a UFS home match was influenced by lightning – its Ikeys game was postponed.
Luckily for the Shimlas play resumed.
The University of Pretoria came back well in the second half, got more momentum and in the last 10 minutes were trailing only 15-19 after Allister Williams scored from a driving maul.
But the Shimlas defended well and stars like Thabo Ndimande, the man of the match, refused to give up.
Ndimande was good at the breakdown, flyhalf George Lourens managed matters impressively and physical players like Ruwald van der Merwe made their presence count.
Shimlas 26 (19): Tries: Jooste Nel, Ruwald van der Merwe, Litha Nkula, Kwezi Dlamini. Conversions: Nkula (3).
Tuks 15 (3): Tries: Mihlali Stamper, Allister Williams. Conversion: Stephan Coetzee. Penalty: Walter Visser. – KovsieSport