UKZN Impi vs UFH Blues

VARSITY SHIELD MATCH REPORT

The UKZN Impi secured their first win of the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff when they beat the UFH Blues at the Peter Booysen Sports Park in Pietermaritzburg on Monday night.

Both teams have suffered two losses in the competition so far so it was no surprise that the rugby was played at a very high tempo throughout the first half as they looked for their first win. The Blues struck first in the 5th minute through the boot of flyhalf Qondani Katywa to put the Blues 3 points ahead but it was short lived as UKZN Impi fullback, Jaco Potgieter pulled one back for the home side to level the scores in the 6th minute.

Potgieter added three more penalties to take the score to 12 – 3 for the Impi and in the 34th minute, flank Lwazi Ngcungama crashed over for the first try of the game and sent the score to 17 – 3. Potgieter made no mistake with the conversion and the UKZN Impi where sitting comfortably at 19 – 3. Potgieter slotted yet another penalty on the stroke of half time and the home side went into the break with a comfortable 22 – 3 lead.

The Blues dug deep in the second half and played some fast, physical rugby that tested the Impi’s defence to its limits. Again UFH scored the first points of the half through a Qondani Katywa penalty and this lifted the spirits of the visitors as they went into the second half water break trailing 22 – 6.

The Blues decided to play wide after the break and they were rewarded when fullback Ayand Mateisi dived over in the corner to put the visitors 11 points behind the Impi. UFH continued to play attacking running rugby but the Impi defence stood strong.

The Impi line was finally breached moments before the final whistle as replacement Vuyo Mboto went over for a consolation try. The conversion was unsuccessful and that left the UKZN Impi victorious with a 22 point to 16 win over the UFH Blues. Impi fullback Jaco Potgieter (right) was rewarded for his outstanding kicking performance and running from depth with the “Player that Rocks” award.