Ikeys finish training camp with win over UWC

Defending Varsity Cup champions FNB UCT ended their week-long training camp in Riebeek West with a 70-5 win over FNB UWC on Saturday morning.

The Ikeys spent their regular pre-season week at Alan Zondagh’s RPC, which coach Kevin Foote described as “the perfect week away” for his charges.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a better pre-season venue than the RPC,” enthused Foote in conversation with varsitycup.co.za.

“The guys worked hard throughout the week,” he added, “but we also had plenty of fun and it was great from a team-building point of view.”

Looking at the match against Varsity Shield side, UWC, which was played in four chukkas, Foote declared himself happy – especially with his team’s defensive effort as they conceded just one try.

The chukkas – made of of 20-minute sessions – were all bossed by UCT as they won 10-0, 20-0, 26-0 and 14-5.

Foote said: “I was happy with the defence, from that point of view it was great having (defensive coach) Dave Wessels back with us after his time in Australia.

“Next week’s game against the South African Under-20 team will be tough… but I’m happy with the depth we have at our disposal and that was the best part of yesterday.”

Flank-turned-centre Michael Morris – one of UCT’s try-scorers – showed up well in the No.12 jersey, with players like Wes Chetty (loosehead prop), Nick Holton (flyhalf) and Tiger Bax (centre) also performing strongly.

The UCT pre-season squad (v UWC):

1. Wes Chetty
2. Matthew Page
3. Shane Meier
4. Pallo Manuel
5. Graham Knoop
6. Ntsolo Setlaba (captain)
7. James Tatham
8. Greg Mallett
9. Steve Wallace
10. Nick Holton
11. Mark Winter
12. Mike Morris
13. Tiger Bax
14. Damian de Allende
15. Paul Cohen
16. Neil Rautenbach
17. Francois van Wyk
18. Arno Botha
19. James Kilroe
20. Brad Bosman
21. TC Botha
22. Timmy Louw
23. Digby Webb
24. Bonga ‘Mini’ Bhengu
25. Nick Farrar
26. Dillon Leyds
27. Andrew Norton
28. David Ambunya
29. Nicholas Mills