Shimlas vs UCT Round 3 match report

Shimlas lost against the visiting team, UCT 22-7 in the third round of the Varsity Cup in Bloemfontein on a soaked Xerox Shimla Park on Monday night.

The first half started at a drenched Xerox Shimla Park in Bloemfontein. UCT dominated the first ten minutes of play where they had two opportunities to put points on the scoreboard but the fullback Lohan Lubbe missed both penalties. Shimlas lock Ruben Schoeman was send off with a yellow card for offside play.

UCT scored the first try of the match after 22 minutes of play, Hendrik Lategaan the inside centre crossed the goal line and scored a seven-pointer, the conversion was unsuccessful. The first half score was FNB UCT 7-0 Shimlas.

UCT Ikeys enjoyed most of the territory in the first half and carried the ball, they used their opportunity when FNB Shimlas had only fourteen players on the field. Shimlas had opportunities but couldn’t finish off due to handling errors.

The second half started with scrappy play by both teams caused by handling errors and bad tactical kicking. UCT managed to keep the Shimlas pinned back in their 22 and scored their second try in the 57th minute stretching the score to 12-0. UCT hooker Cuan Hablutzel went over after a strong mall from pack forwards of UCT, the conversion was once again unsuccessful.

Shimlas answered with a five-point try after the Shimlas winger Marco Mason went over, converting his own try to make the score 12-7 to UCT with 18 minutes left in the game. UCT fullback Lohan Lubbe answered with a penalty kick stretching the lead to 15-7. UCT weren’t not done and after brilliant individual play from the UCT winger Rayno Mapoe who crossed the tryline for a seven-pointer once again stretched the lead to 22-7 with eight minutes left in the match. 

UCT won the game with 22-7 scoring three tries, the two seven-pointers clinched the game for the UCT team. UCT were the better team on the day and adapted better to the wet conditions at Xerox Shimla Park.

Scorers
FNB Shimlas: 7
Tries: Marco Mason (five-point try)

Cons: Marco Mason

FNB UCT: 22

Tries: Henrik Lategaan (seven-point try), Cuan Hablutzel, Rayno Mapoe (seven-pointer)

Pens: Lohan Lubbe

Yellow card: Ruben Schoeman

FNB Shimlas Starting XV: 15 Sechaba Motsoela, 14 Carel Wynand Coetzee, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Stephen  Janse Van Rensburg (C), 11 Marco Mason,  10 Nicholas Naude , 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Bernardus Erasmus, 7 Musa Mahlasela ,6 Daniel Maartens,5  Neil Claasen, 4 Ruben Schoeman ,3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Francois Steyn , 1 Thabiso Msiza
Subs: 16 Anrich Alberts, 17 Johan Kotze, 18 Kwenzokuhle Blose ,19 Raymond Woest, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Armand Pretorius , 22 Sango Xamlashe ,23 Niel Stannard

FNB UCT Starting XV: 1 Wayrin Losper, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 4 Nama Xaba, 5 Duncan Saffy, 6 Jason Klaasen (C), 7 Luke Stringer, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 9 Stefano de Gouveia, 10 Rob Anderson , 11 Joel Smith, 12 Rico Lategan, 13 Tristan Mouton, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 15 Lohan Lubbe.

Subs: 16 Martin Chandler, 17 William Day, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazebuko, 19 Sanele Malwane, 20 Alva Senderayi 21 Michael Henning, 22 Matthew Redman, 23 Hilio De Abreu.