Flank Tinotenda Mavesere scored a first-half hat-trick as FNB UWC claimed their first win of FNB Varsity Cup 2021 on Sunday afternoon, beating FNB Madibaz 47-40.
The Madibaz made a strong start at Tuks Stadium when hooker Thembekile Boltina went over from a maul, but UWC hit back through Mavesere, who beat two defenders on his way to the tryline.
Boltina got over for his second, before UWC hooker Jacques van Zyl dotted down almost immediately after the first strategy break to make it a two-point game.
Mavesere then scored two tries in quick succession, the latter a point-of-origin seven-pointer, to give UWC a 30-19 half-time lead.
The Madibaz pack got them back into the game when flank Anrouw Nel went over early in the second half.
But UWC regained control when fullback Gilroy-Lee Philander broke the line and flyhalf André Manuel’s excellent pass put wing Tasriq Mynhardt over in the corner for a seven-point try.
Despite only having 14 men on the field after fullback Tiaan Swanepoel was sent to the sin bin, Nel grabbed his second try.
Madibaz hooker Ruan Jonker then scored a converted point-of-origin try in the 80th minute, which reduced the deficit to seven points. But while there was still time for the restart, UWC were able to hang on for the win to conclude FNB Varsity Cup 'Bubble 1' in sixth place on the log.
FNB Player that Rocks: Tinotenda Mavesere (FNB UWC)
FNB UWC 47 (30) – Tries: Tinotenda Mavesere (2x5, 1x7), Jacques van Zyl (2), Tasriq Mynhardt (1x7). Conversions: Branden de Kock (5). Penalty: De Kock.
FNB Madibaz 40 (19) – Tries: Tembekile Boltina (2), Aya Oliphant, Arnouw Nel (2), Ruan Jonker (1x7). Conversions: Tian Schutte (4).
Report courtesy varsitycup.co.za.
The Madibaz made a strong start at Tuks Stadium when hooker Thembekile Boltina went over from a maul, but UWC hit back through Mavesere, who beat two defenders on his way to the tryline.
Boltina got over for his second, before UWC hooker Jacques van Zyl dotted down almost immediately after the first strategy break to make it a two-point game.
Mavesere then scored two tries in quick succession, the latter a point-of-origin seven-pointer, to give UWC a 30-19 half-time lead.
The Madibaz pack got them back into the game when flank Anrouw Nel went over early in the second half.But UWC regained control when fullback Gilroy-Lee Philander broke the line and flyhalf André Manuel’s excellent pass put wing Tasriq Mynhardt over in the corner for a seven-point try.
Despite only having 14 men on the field after fullback Tiaan Swanepoel was sent to the sin bin, Nel grabbed his second try.
Madibaz hooker Ruan Jonker then scored a converted point-of-origin try in the 80th minute, which reduced the deficit to seven points. But while there was still time for the restart, UWC were able to hang on for the win to conclude FNB Varsity Cup 'Bubble 1' in sixth place on the log.
FNB Player that Rocks: Tinotenda Mavesere (FNB UWC)
FNB UWC 47 (30) – Tries: Tinotenda Mavesere (2x5, 1x7), Jacques van Zyl (2), Tasriq Mynhardt (1x7). Conversions: Branden de Kock (5). Penalty: De Kock.
FNB Madibaz 40 (19) – Tries: Tembekile Boltina (2), Aya Oliphant, Arnouw Nel (2), Ruan Jonker (1x7). Conversions: Tian Schutte (4).
Report courtesy varsitycup.co.za.
