TukSport’s success continued in April at the Varsity Rugby tournament which concluded with a TuksRugby win. The FNB Tuks Young Guns (the u/20 side) had once again reached the finals of their respective tournaments. The players showed that their desire for victory had not waned and won the final with a hard fought 42-37 win over the Maties Young Guns. TuksRugby’s first team were up next, also facing old foes Maties in the main tournament final on 17 April. A 28-21 victory would see the seniors lift their third Varsity Cup trophy.

Once the rugby action concluded, it was on to hockey as the TuksHockey’s women’s senior team sought to emulate their rugby and athletics compatriots and claim their own title. Their season proved to be an unforgettable one as a staggering 15-0 win over UKZN Hockey set them on their way to a series of wins that would take them all the way to the final where they came up against much tougher opposition in the form of Maties’ Hockey. TuksHockey, however, maintained their winning composure to see off Maties in a 1-0 victory and claim the Varsity Hockey title in the process.

Not to be outdone, TuksFootball found success in the Varsity Football tournament. A tough, yet ultimately successful campaign culminated in a 2-0 victory over cross-town rivals TUT Football as TuksFootball claimed its third title in four seasons. TuksFootball’s women’s team also saw its stock rise in 2017 as the Varsity Cup team consolidated a fifth place finish in the tournament.

TuksSwimming did the university proud as they claimed their seventh USSA title in September while TuksGolf claimed the USSA Gold Championship.

TuksNetball continued to fly the striped flag high as they ended a four year wait for the Varsity Netball title. The ladies capped off an excellent season with a hard fought 43-41 win over NWU Netball.

TuksWomensRugby has been on the rise for a number of years and in 2017 they put together a series of impressive tournament wins at both the Munich Oktoberfest Tournament and the Stanlisas Sevens Tournament in France. TuksAthletics continued the year’s dominance with their first USSA Cross country running title in Kimberley in September, while the women’s beach volleyball players also became USSA champions.

Assupol TuksCricket won the USSA Cricket Tournament ending on 256/7 in 50 overs, beating the Madibaz by five runs who ended on 251/6 in 50 overs. The final match was held at the Tuks Oval on 6 October.

At the USSA Judo Tournament games held at LC de Villiers Sports Campus between 14 and 17 September, TuksJudo won gold. This was a monumental feat which the team had only achieved twice before in 2009 and 2015. In total, at the 2017 event, the team won 13 gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal.

Overall, TuksSport has indeed had a 2017 that won’t easily be forgotten and with 2018 just around the corner, individuals and teams from all codes will be looking to improve on what has been an incredibly successful year.

 

Photos: Stefan Stander

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