Tuks make rugby history
FNB Tuks made history by being the first team in history to score 100 points in a single Varsity Cup match, defeating FNB UCT 100-25 at the Cape Town Stadium on Monday.
Both the Ikey Tigers and Tuks went into the match with something to play for. For Tuks, the possibility of making it into the semi-finals of the Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International was all that mattered, while the Ikey Tigers were determined not to end their campaign without a win.
Both teams started off trying to get the edge on their opponent, but it was Tuks who struck first blood as Van der Merwe powered over the line for a seven-point try, with Stander converting.
The Ikey Tigers hit back through captain Guy alexander to reduce the deficit to only two points, but Tuks soon ran away with the game. Dries Swanepoel scored a seven-point try after a clever chipped pass over UCT’s defence before Van der Merwe scored two impressive nine-point tries in quick succession.
Tuks went on to score three more tries before the first half was up, including another nine-point try from Clyde Davids. At the break, the score was Tuks 63-7 UCT.
UCT started quickly in the second half, scoring two nine-point tries within six minutes through Thomas Bednall. Tuks quickly hit back and ensured that they finished strong. Man of the match and Tuks player Duhan Van der Merwe scored a seven-point try in the 61st minute before he scored a nine- and seven-point try within the space of two minutes right before the final whistle.
On the stroke of the 80th minute, Tuks were awarded a penalty and Tinus De Beer was successful in ensuring that his team made history by being the first team to score 100 points in a Varsity Cup match (100-25).