Scintillating Shimlas hammer UJ

Shimlas took a 17-8 lead into the half-time interval and saw their lead being trimmed to just two points, before they ran riot to claim the bonus-point victory. However, UJ bagged a four-try bonus point of their own though with two late scores.

UJ flyhalf Divan Nel opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he slotted the first penalty of the match but the home side's lead was short-lived as Shimlas hit back five minutes later.

Lock Neil Claassen put the visitors ahead with a seven-point try, when he rounded off a flowing move that started in his own half. However, Frederick Mason failed to add the extras. But the home side grabbed a try of their own soon after.

UJ outside centre Tshegofatso Ramaboea showed his scoring prowess when he dotted down. Even though Nel failed to add the extras, UJ held a slender 8-7 lead after 16 minutes. But Shimlas hit back on the stroke of the first strategy break when captain Stephan Janse van Rensburg grabbed his side's second try.

Frederick Mason added the extras to ensure a 14-8 lead. Shimlas then added to their lead when Mason split the uprights with his first penalty of the match, 17-8 after 23 minutes.

Neither side were able to grab further points before heading into the half-time interval.

UJ trimmed Shimlas' lead to just two points in the 45th minute when Jo-Hanco de Villiers crashed over, with Nel adding the extras. But that was where the fun ended for the home side.

Shimlas ran in four tries, including two seven-point scores, to ensure a massive 47-15 lead after 65 minutes of play, to secure the bonus point.

UJ had the final say of the match though as a 75th-minute penalty try put them one score closer to gaining a bonus-point. It came to fruition in the final moment of the match when Johan Esterhuizen added his name to the scoresheet.

Ewan Adams added the extras to bring some respectability to the scoreline.

Scorers:

For UJ:

Tries: Ramaboea, de Villiers, Penalty try, Esterhuizen

Cons: Nel, Adams

Pen: Nel

For Shimlas:

Tries: Claassen, Janse van Rensburg, Mason 2, Maqondwana, Woest

Cons: Mason 4, Stannard 2

Pen: Mason

Teams:

UJ: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Peter-John Walters, 13 Tshegofatso Ramaboea, 12 Jaco Fourie, 11 Aphiwe Dyanti, 10 Divan Nel, 9 Devon Mare, 8 Jo-Hanco de Villiers, 7 Adrian Bester, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 Estian Enslin, 4 Kyle van Dalen, 3 Nico du Plessis, 2 Johannes Snyman, 1 Khanya Gela.

Replacements: 16 Dillon Bakos, 17 Kyle Kruger, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Reinhaard Nothnagel, 20 Willem Massyn, 21 Johan Esterhuizen, 22 Ewan Adams, 23 Tshepo Thulo.

Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Motsoela, 14 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Stephan Janse van Rensburg (captain), 11 Frederick Mason, 10 Niell Stannard, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Albertus Erasmus, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Neil Claassen, 4 Raymond Woest, 3 Cornelius Kramer, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Kwenzokuhle Blose.

Replacements: 16 Albrecht Steyn, 17 Johan Kotze, 18 Thabiso Msiza, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Musa Mahlesa, 21 Albertus Pretorius, 22 Vuyani Maqina, 23 Nicholas Naude.

Referee: Vusi Msibi

Assistant referees: Local