Cape Town - Shimlas claimed victory in superb conditions as they dominated NWU-Pukke to send their opponents back to Potchefstroom with their tails between their legs.
Shimlas won 35-23.
Jimmy Mpailane from NWU-Pukke scored the opening try of the match as he went for a seven-point try. Schalk Hugo converted the kick to put the visitors 9-0 ahead.
In the 16th minute it was Nicolaas Immelman from Shimlas who got the home side on the board with a five-point try.
The conversions was missed and Pukke led 9-5 ahead of the 'strategy break'.
NWU-Pukke were punished for a high tackle and poor discipline as the referee awarded a penalty try to Shimlas. Penalty tries don't require the conversion to be taken under Varsity Cup rules.
The home team went into half time ahead 12-9.
As the second half started it was Shimlas who dominated the first few minutes with a try by Dian Badenhorst followed by the bonus-point try by Daniel Maartens.
Those two tries put the home side 28-9 ahead by the 48th minute.
Wandile Mazibuko from NWU-Pukke narrowed the gap as he went over for a five-pointer. Julian Delicado, who came on after the break, kicked the conversion to put them 28-16 down before the second half 'strategy break'.
However, the writing was on the wall for the visitors as Benardus Erasmus scored a try in the 68th minute to add five points to Shimlas’ score. Marco Mason converted his third kick of the evening successfully to put them 35-16 ahead.
Morné Strydom closed the gap as he went over for NWU-Pukke in the 83th minute and Delicado's conversion made the final score 35-23 to Shimlas.
Player that Rocks: Daniel Maartens (Shimlas)
Scores:
NWU-Pukke
Tries: Jimmy Mpailane (seven-point), Wandile Mazibuko (five-point), Morné Strydom (five-point)
Conversions: Schalk Hugo, Julian Delicado (2)
Shimlas
Tries: Nicolaas Immelman (five-point), Dian Badenhorst (five-point), Daniel Maartens (seven-point), Bernardus Erasmus (five-point), penalty try (seven-points)
Conversions: Marco Mason (3)
Teams:
NWU-Pukke
15 Tapiwe Mafura, 14 Jimmy Mpailane, 13 Elden Schoeman, 12 Jaap Pienaar, 11 Justin Newman, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Marno Redelinghuys (captain), 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Wandile Mazibuko, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Jaco Swanepoel, 3 Dewald Dekker, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Dolf van Deventer
Substitutes: 16 Dane van der Westhuizen, 17 Morné Strydom, 18 Boela Venter, 19 Marcel Henn, 20 Caleb Louw, 21 Julian Delicado, 22 Nkululeko Mcuma, 23 Lungelo Gosa
Shimlas
15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Stephan Janse van Rensburg (captain), 11 Marco Mason, 10 Niel Stannard, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Bernardus Erasmus, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Raymond Woest, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Johan Kotze
Substitutes: 16 Francois Steyn, 17 Kwenzokuhle Blose, 18 Thabiso Msiza, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Musa Mahlasela, 21 Armand Pretorius, 22 Nicholas Naude, 23 Wilhandre Kotzenberg