Flyhalf Ethan Wentzel kicked a last-minute penalty as UFS Shimlas edged the UCT Ikey Tigers in a thrilling 2024 Varsity Cup final in Bloemfontein on Monday night.
In a match that featured 11 tries, the 45-42 victory clinched Shimlas’ second Varsity Cup title and first since 2015.
Sensational scenes in Bloem as Ethan Wentzel wins the @FNBSA Varsity Cup for the @UFSweb Shimlas with a kick in the 83rd min to be crowned 2024 champions 🏆!
FNB UFS 45 – 42 FNB UCT #RugbyThatRocks brought to you by FNB, Steers and Suzuki. pic.twitter.com/unfZc25A7V
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 22, 2024
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 22, 2024
UCT were hunting their first title since 2014 and took a 31-26 lead into the break, after getting off to a hot start and setting the tone with hooker Keagan Blanckenberg and centre Jonathan Roche both crossing the whitewash in the opening ten minutes.
Shimlas showcased their attacking prowess, as scrumhalf Jandre Nel and hooker Liyema Mgwigwi scored two quickfire tries to get the hosts on the board.
Ikeys winger Rethabile Louw snatched a crucial intercept, scoring a point-of-origin try, before the competition’s record point-scorer Ntokozo Makhaza further extended the lead with a penalty from in front.
It appeared that UCT would cruise through the rest of the half when fullback Duran Koevort breached the Shimlas’ defence, scoring their fourth try.
However, Shimlas came right back into the contest with tries from Wentzel and loose forward Kwezi Dlamini as they went into the break trailing by just five points.
The tries kept coming in the second half as Nel went over for his brace before Makhaza restored parity for the visitors with two more penalties.
Shimlas continued to press and were rewarded with winger Siviwe Zondani going over in the corner for another point-of-origin try as they took a 42-37 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Replacement Johan Lombard seemed to have scored a winner for the Ikeys when he went over from the back of a rolling maul to level the scores with a couple of minutes to play, but Makhaza fired his conversion wide, setting up a grandstand finish.
The hosts secured the ball off the kickoff and when UCT infringed, Wentzel kept his composure and stepped up to claim victory for Shimlas.
Photo: Hannes Naude/Asem EngageÂ
