With the Varsity Shield lying in wait for UP, it is time to review the season. It was a winless shocker of a season that deserves no sugar-coating, but perhaps some perspective can be given to answer some tough questions. Were UP as bad as it seems and is this the first time that a Varsity Cup team had fallen this hard from glory?
As of this year the poorest showing from UP was in the 2010 Varsity Cup. They saw themselves placed sixth with 14 points. Which is double the amount they saw themselves at the end of this year. Although, is the rock bottom position with seven points an honest painting of the season? Tuks found themselves denied three victories against NWU, CUT and Shimlas; as well as a draw against UJ with only a single try and conversion. This would have meant that 14 points more could have been secured if one single break through run or driving maul had worked in these games. These points would have placed UPsixth, just behind Maties on points difference. That is shockingly close. UP could have had an unlucky season compared to a horrible one.
This is not the first time a major team in the Varsity Cup had a shocker of a season. Ikeys Tigers during the 2016 Varsity Cup ended the season with three points. Even though they won the competition in 2014. However, they avoided relegation due to a different way the Varsity Cup operated at that time. Back in 2016, the team ending at the bottom of the table had to play a relegation battle game against the winner of the Varsity Shield. Ikeys won it and secured another year in the Varsity Cup.
With all of this, it can be seen that UP were much closer to a far better season than what the log would suggest. They are also not the first champions to find themselves at the bottom of the table without a win. So, there is only one thing to hope for. That this season will be one to forget and that UP will only spend one season in the Shield before bouncing back to claim their place in the Varsity Cup once again.
