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HEARTBREAK FOR WSU ALL BLACKS AS CPUT SNATCH VICTORY IN DYING SECONDS
What was a pulsating final filled with all the drama of a Shakespearean masterpiece ended in great tragedy for the WSU All Blacks as they saw victory snatched from their grasp in the dying seconds of this year’s edition of the FNB Varsity Shield held at the TUT Stadium in Pretoria.
With virtually the last move of the game deep into extra time, trailing 26 -23, DRC-born Nathan Nkutu breached the WSU defences and gleefully crossed the whitewash to hand the Cape Town outfit a hard-earned title defence.
It was CPUT who started the quickest of the blocks as they took the lead during the fourth minute from a rolling maul that gave the backline an opportune situation from which to launch a swift attack that would see right-winger Asisipho Malotana draw first blood.
The early assault from the Capetonians would bear more fruits as the continued pressure would induce a penalty by the All Blacks which would see the evergreen Feghon Leigh-Snyders slot a penalty to give CPUT an 8-0 advantage during the opening stages.
For all their enterprise, the team from the mother city couldn’t rid their ranks of ill-discipline. Multiple penalties shortly after the first strategic break would see the All Blacks score two relatively quick penalties to cut the deficit to 8-6 by the 32nd minute.
The resultant kick-off by CPUT would spell disaster for the All Blacks as fly-half Lwandile Mapuko would botch a simple clearance from his own 22 metre line, kicking the ball onto on-rushing diminutive opposition scrumhalf who’d charge the ball down and have his teammate gleefully clean up the scraps to cross the whitewash to give the Capetonians a 15 – 6 lead.
CPUT would stretch their lead just five minutes into the 2nd half as their ever-elusive fly-half bamboozle the WSU defence to score a sumptuous try during the 45th minute to give his team a 20-6 lead. He would follow that up with a jaw-dropping drop goal to see CPUT sitting pretty with a 23 – 6 lead.
A stern talking-to by the WSU coaching staff would result in a miraculous turnaround as shortly after the second strategic break the Eastern Cape outfit would score from an intricate trick-play finished off under the posts by winger Sakhele Ngeno to see scores tally at 23-13.
A spectacular change in gear would see WSU add another 10 points in a matter of five minutes to see scores level at 23-23 by the 65th minute courtesy of a penalty and a converted try by scrumhalf Eric Mcaphukana.
Scores would be tied until the final whistle which would bring about another 20 minutes of extra-time.
WSU would draw first blood early on in the first half as WSU’s leading scorer, captain and fullback Litha Nkula took full advantage of an ill-disciplined defence to convert a penalty opportunity.
It would be in the 118th minute of play that CPUT would break WSU hearts as a short lineout would eventually make its way the other end of the field to be finished off by Nkutu.
By Thando Cezula
