Flyhalf Kurtley Kiewiet racked up 20 points as UJ scored six tries to smash Johannesburg rivals Wits and claim their first win of the season at UJ Park on Monday night.
The impressive 49- 26 victory sees UJ’s five-game losing streak come to an end with a fantastic display of attacking rugby.
This UJ team love a bit of razzle dazzle ⚡️
The Orange Army is going crazy in the stands with Malgas and Finca combining brilliantly 🟧
English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans commentary ⏬🎙️ pic.twitter.com/a6HbmcsipA
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 25, 2024
Having started the penultimate round fighting relegation, UJ have cut the gap on sixth-placed CUT to four points with one round to play. Wits, meanwhile, have missed out on a place on the semi-finals, as they now trail fourth-placed Maties by nine points.
The lead was extended immediately off the kickoff with centre Likhona Finca rounding off a fantastic length-of-the-field attack for another point-of-origin try.
Even though Wits centre Liyema Matyolweni crossed the try line, the momentum firmly swung in favour of the hosts. UJ capitalised with two rapid tries from wing Boldwin Hansen and lock Connor van Buuren, extending their lead to 42-19 with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Both sides then traded tries with replacement back David Cary crossing the whitewash for UJ before fullback Setshaba Mokoena grabbed a consolation score for Wits.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze