CHARLES SIWELE
Tuks’s u/19, u/20 and u/21 rugby teams took on UJ in the Intervarsity competition at the LC De Villiers Sport Centre on Saturday 10 March.
The three games reflected the high level of competition between the two clubs with the UJ u/19 A team coming out on top in a fiercely contested game and both the Tuks u/20 A and u/21 A sides managing to etch out well-fought victories.
Tuks took an early 7-3 lead before the tenth minute. Soon after, UJ struck back with a try of their own. Penalties kept the teams in touch with each other, as neither seemed to have outright ascendency until the last ten minutes when Tuks capitalised on a lapse in concentration by the UJ defence.
The last ten minutes saw Tuks score two tries and UJ one. The final score was proof of how challenging the game was, but Tuks stretched
their lead late in the game to overcome UJ with a final score of 38-27.
The u/20 Tuks A side had a far less difficult time in their match as they convincingly beat the UJ side who were let down by handling errors. The UJ u/20 team seemed to be lacking in structure and discipline as they conceded five tries by half-time. Quick thinking by the Tuks forwards almost led to a sixth try soon after half time as the Tuks hooker threw in a quick lineout to a fellow forward.
The second half also saw the increase in unforced errors by both sides. The visitors continued to push hard for an elusive try that Tuks fought to prevent. Only towards the end of the game did UJ manage to sneak an impressive try courtesy of some fancy footwork from their number 11. However, Tuks managed to score in the last few minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
Photo: Kobus Barnard
