CUT Ixias to challenge UCT Ikey Tigers in Promotion match

The Ikey Tigers will face an tough challenge from CUT Ixias when the play the Varsity Shield runners up in a promotion – relegation match on Monday the 9th. 

CUT have dominated the Varsity Shield alongside Wits and won 6 out of their 8 matches topping the log on better points difference compared to their Johannesburg rivals. They lost to Wits last night by 17:19 – Wits have now qualified for direct promotion to the Varsity CUp 2013 in place of TUT.

The Central University of Technology team only lost to Wits away and notably also to UWC away during the double round leageu stage. The Bloem based outfit have a well drilled pack of forwards which has caused massive problems for all their Varsity Shield opposition. 

Their 2012 record is as follows:

CUT 25 – 12 Wits (Won)
UKZN 10 – 30 CUT (Won)
CUT 34 – 15 UFH (Won)
UWC 37 – 23 CUT (Lost)
Wits 20 – 16 CUT (Lost)
CUT 42 – 4 UKZN (Won)
CUT 73 – 8 UWC (Won)
UFH 10 – 40 CUT (Won)
CUT 17 – 19 Wits (Lost)

The Ikeys don't have much on an indication other than having beaten UWC by a big margin in a January friendly match – but then again so did CUT, after the University of the Western Cape side seemed to implode a bit in the latter stages of the Varsity Shield – the result was CUT 73 – 8 UWC. 

CUT compete in the FREE STATE – Konica Minolta First League which is made up of seven teams. 

Shimlas are the dominant force in the competition and the only indicator of CUT's level as far as UCT are concerned. The most recent league score goes as far back as  April 2012 CUT Ixias 24-61 Shimlas. 

CUT won the Varsity Shield last season and played TUT in a promotion / relegation match, which went into extra time, with TUT eventually coming out tops to stay in the Cup competition for 2012 – a feat they could not repeat this time around. 

UCT came close to avoiding this nerve wrecking match up – only trailing 6th placed Shimlas by 2 log points – with many of their games being lost narrowly and a last second draw against NWU Puk which cost them valuable log points. 

The Ikeys vs CUT match will be played at the Varsity Cup Finals venue at Tuks stadium in Pretoria and will be televised on Supersport on Monday 9th.