Ikeys winless journey continues

FNB Ikeys winless streak in the 2013 Varsity Cup continued on Monday when they played out to a 21-21 draw with FNB Shimlas in Bloemfontein.

An early try from Tiger Bax for the Ikeys got them off to the perfect start. Ross Jones-Davies slotted the conversion, handing Ikeys an 8-0. 

The good start from UCT was soon negated by a penalty try which Referee Lusanda Jam awarded UFS-Shimlas after Ikeys collapsed the maul, levelling matters up at 8-8. 

A yellow card in the 35th min for UFS-Shimlas prop Cole van Heerden gave Ikeys a numerical advantage which lead to a second try from Bax on the stroke of half-time, giving UCT a 16-8 lead at the break.

UCT flank Jason Klaasen was shown a yellow for diving over a maul early in the second half, reducing both sides to 14 men. Shimlas skipper Oupa Mohoje shifted the momentum even further, breaking off from a driving maul to dot down for a try. Fullback Nico Scheepers obliged with the conversion to level matters up once more at 16-16.

The ping-pong point scoring battle continued as Ikeys edged ahead again courtesy of a driving maul try of their own, scored by replacement loose forward Bradley Bosman in the 53rd minute. Jones-Davies' conversion attempt bounced off the uprights, making the score 21-16, a miss that would come back to haunt the Cape Town men.

A swift move down the left created an overlap for Shimlas which was finished off by left winger Divandre Strydom levelling the scores once again in the 60th minute. Scheepers conversion attempt was no good, leaving the score at 21-21.

That was how matters ended with neither team able to break the deadlock in a tense final 20 minutes. A frustrating result for both sides, with Ikeys desperate for a first win in 2013, and Shimlas needing a win to keep their semifinal hopes alive. 

Shimlas now lie in 6th position on the log, needing nothing less than a win against UJ in Johannesburg next week to have any chance of progressing to the play-offs. 

UCT meanwhile can do no better nor worse than their current standing at 7th position with 7 log points for two draws and 3 bonus points. They next meet Wits – the only other side yet to register a win this year – on the Green Mile. 

The scorers:

For FNB UCT:
Tries: Bax 2, Bosman
Cons: Jones-Davies 2
Yellow-Card: Klaasen

For FNB Shimlas:
Tries: Penalty try, Mohoje, Strydom
Cons: Scheepers 2
Yellowq-Card: Van Heerden

UFS-Shimlas: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Maphutha Dolo, 13 Robbie van Schalkwyk, 12 Stephan van der Merwe, 11 Divandre Strydom, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Erik le Roux, 7 Teboho Mohoje (captain), 6 Henco Venter, 5 JC Astle, 4 Fanie van der Walt, 3 Carl van Heerden, 2 JC van Wyk, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Wikus Deysel, 17 Nick Schonert, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Freddie Ngoza, 20 Hlanlha Hlongwane, 21 Sethu Tom, 22 Francois du Toit, 23 Luan de Bruin.

UCT: 15 Ross Jones-Davies, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Dylan Sage, 12 Liam Bax, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Liam Slatem (captain), 8 Joshua Katzen, 7 Jason Klaasen, 6 Derek Asbun, 5  James Kilroe, 4 Kyle Kriel, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes de Klerk, 19 Bradley Bosman, 20 Rick Schroeder, 21 Paul Cohen, 22 Justin Coles, 23 Digby Webb
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