It was a hard fought battle at the Peter Booysen Sports Park on a rainy Monday night in Pietermaritzburg as the UKZN Impi took on the WITS Kudus in their first home game in the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff.

The UKZN Impi came out guns blazing and were quickly rewarded with a penalty in the second minute which was easily converted by UKZN Impi fullback, Kirsten Jones. The home side continued to play attacking rugby in wet conditions and by the first strategy break, were 9-0 up courtesy of two more Jones penalties.

It was WITS that drew last blood in the first half and went into the halftime break 9-3 down after outside centre Branden Lizamore kicked a penalty over to put the first points on the board for the Kudus.

The crowds spirits were lifted in the second half when the rain stopped and so were those of the WITS Kudus as they scored an unconverted try in the 16th minute to take them within one point of the home team and go into the strategy break 9-8 down.

Replacement fullback for the UKZN Impi, Jaco Poetgieter made it 12-8 just after the break with a spectacular long range penalty after only being on the field for a minute. This gave the Impi fans hope for their first win in the competition.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be for the home side as the WITS Kudus scored two great tries towards the end of the second half by winger Gamede Nkuli to secure a 22-12 victory, their third in the competition. WITS inside centre, Rudolf Prinsloo claimed the “Player that Rocks” award for his outstanding defence in the midfield. The UKZN Impi will be looking to improve on their last two performances which have both been disappointing losses for the side while WITS secure top spot on the log.