Tigers burn bright in Cup victory over UJ

The University of Cape Town’s Ikey Tigers got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 42-23 thumping over the University of Johannesburg in Cape Town last night.

The Capetonians’ recorded a close 32-24 win over Cup newcomers UWC in their opener, before being thrashed 66-5 by a rampaging Maties side in front of their home crowd.

They had a bye last week and went into their third test without their captain and star flanker Nama Xaba after he sustained an injury in their first game.

UJ, on the other hand – under the guidance of a new coach – have now lost all four of their games, including a 8-23 hammering at the hands of NWU and a 1940 lesson from Tuks. Last week, they also fell to CUT away from home.

Ikeys scored six converted tries to the visitors’ three, with No 8 Nyasha Tarusenga putting in a massive performance to score a hat-trick.

The loose forward’s carries caused UJ all kinds of problems, and he showed his physicality when he used brute force to get over the line.

UCT flyhalf Lohan Lubbe also had a superb outing and produced a series of pressure-relieving kicks, while his distribution also allowed his backline to do damage.

UCT scored two tries in the opening quarter of the encounter and kept UJ scoreless in the early stages, but the Johannesburg side came to the party and scored two tries, before UCT made sure they had the final say in the form of two quick tries just before half time.

The hosts scored two more tries in the second half while UJ only managed one, and it proved enough to cap off a dominant performance. – Wynona Louw

UCT: Tries: Josh Moon, Coenrad Vrey, Kyle Bowman, Nyasha Tarusenga (3), Conversions: Darian Hock (6)

UJ: Tries: Tyreeq February, Tatenda Mujawo, Wynand Botha Conversions: Mashudu Raphunga (2)