Ikey Tigers grind out narrow win

Big Pallo Manuel on the rampage

UCT beat Durbell on Saturday by 20:19 to keep their League Title Challenge alive with two matches to go.

Durbel had taken Maties to the wire with 19:18 at Coetzenberg, so UCT were warned. Following this nailbiter and the four log points it brought, the Ikeys now need two bonus point wins in their final two matches in order to claim an historic double – the Varsity Cup champions having not tasted league success since 1974.

The conditions were classic Green Mile stuff with the wind pumping downfield, but UCT believed enough to claw themselves back into the game, with vice captain Therlow Pietersen, scoring twice as the students came back from 10-14 down at half-time against the determined visitors.

The students worked the conditions, with Nick Holton’s reliable boot keeping the scoreboard ticking and they edged the visitors by a point 20:19.

Up next are the brave Belhar away and while the mighty Maties battle out the National Club Championships, their second side Vics, will be the final mountain to climb for Kevin Foote’s charges on Saturday the 23rd.

Gallery courtesy of Peter van As:

FNB UCT’s scorers:
Tries: Therlow Pietersen 2
Cons: Nick Holton 2
Pens: Holton 2

The UCT team: 15 Ricky Rijs, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Therlow Pietersen, 12 André Coetzer, 11 Mark Winter, 10 Nick Holton, 9 Nick Farrar, 8 Greg Mallett, 7 Ntsolo Setlaba, 6 Don Armand (captain), 5 Brad Bosman, 4 Pallo Manuel, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Wes Chetty.
Replacements: 16 Dayne Jans, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 James Kilroe, 19 Zandy Macdonald, 20 Steve Wallace, 21 Tiger Bax, 22 Paul Cohen.

The WP Super League log:
(Played, won, points)
1. FNB Maties 18, 14, 69
2. Hamilton’s 18, 13, 66
3. FNB UCT 16, 13, 60
4. Durbanville-Belville 17, 9, 50
5. SK-Walmers 16, 10, 48
6. Victorians 16, 7, 43
7. False Bay 16, 8, 39
8. Villager’s 17, 5, 23
9. Belhar 16, 3, 18
10. Helderberg 16, 0, 5

The FNB UCT team: 15 Ricky Rijs, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Therlow Pietersen, 12 André Coetzer, 11 Mark Winter, 10 Nick Holton, 9 Nick Farrar, 8 Greg Mallett, 7 Ntsolo Setlaba, 6 Don Armand (captain), 5 Brad Bosman, 4 Pallo Manuel, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Wes Chetty.
Replacements: 16 Dayne Jans, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 James Kilroe, 19 Zandy Macdonald, 20 Steve Wallace, 21 Tiger Bax, 22 Paul Cohen.