FNB UWC claims maiden Varsity Shield title
FNB UFH claim the 2017 Varsity Shield title.
The crowd came out in their numbers to witness this year’s Varsity Shield final at the UWC Sports Grounds in Bellville, Cape Town, as their team, FNB UWC, powered past FNB UFH 45-2 to claim the 2017 Varsity Shield title.
On a warm evening in Cape Town, it was the home team who took the lead in the first minute through centre Michaine Fick after great play on the wing. Not long after, Herschel Jantjies added a second in the ninth minute to give his side an early 13-0 lead after the second try was converted by Aidynn Cupido. The home side kept piling on the pressure and came close to adding another try when Andre Manuel was tackled just a few metres shy of the tryline.
FNB UWC was strong in defence and the visitors struggled to threaten their opponents’ tryline. The frustration surfaced when the two teams were involved in a miniature bust-up in the middle of the park, but no player was sent off as the referee did not deem it a malicious brawl. The contest took another turn in favour of the home side when Jantjies sold a dummy to dot the ball right under the posts after a strong scrum from his team. FNB UFH added pressure on the buzzer but a strong defence from FNB UWC saw them hold on to their 13-0 lead going into the break.
The half time team talk must have been a stern one as FNB UFH got their first points just a minute into the half. Flyhalf Sergio Christian got his team’s scoreboard ticking when he scored a penalty. The try seemed to recharge the FNB UWC mission as the boys from Cape Town hit back through a try from substitute Ishmaeel Schroder to extend their lead to 29-2.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as Luyolo Batshise was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle. FNB UWC took immediate advantage of their numerical superiority as Ishmaeel Schroeder got his second try of the match to add to the woes of FNB UFH. Aidynn Cupido had his scoring boots on as he converted yet another try to propel his side to a 37-2 lead after 59 minutes. It did not end there as Andre Manuel scored a final-clinching try, much to the delight of the home fans. Cupido converted the try that handed FNB UWC their first-ever Varsity Shield title and also claimed the record for the highest-ever winning margin in the competition.
FNB Player That Rocks: Herschel Jantjies (FNB UWC)
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