Witsies dominate UWC to win the Varsity Shield
BRAAMFONTEIN – Witsies are crowned the Varsity Shield winners after trashing FNB UWC 39–2.
The Wits Rugby Stadium was filled with jubilation as fans sang their hearts out when FNB Wits thrashed FNB UWC (University of the Western Cape) in the Varsity Shield final.
The ‘Witsies’ dominated possession in a very physical game, regularly winning lineouts, making runs and scoring tries through their fierce driving mauls. The final score was 39–2.
FNB UWC could not hold on to possession. Many opportunities were missed, as whenever UWC were in the opposition 22 they lost the ball forward or conceded penalties. They could not score a single try in the face of the Witsies’ dogged defence.
FNB Wits Captain Warren Gilbert complimented his teammates for their steadfast determination and commitment throughout the game.
“Our main goal was to qualify for the Varsity Cup and we have accomplished that goal,” he smiled.
According to Gilbert, it was still early to talk about the upcoming Varsity Cup season. “There is still a lot of work that needs to be done before we can actually say that we are ready,” he concluded.
Wits coach Hugo van As said that the success was a result of a “huge team effort”. “We have a young team that is prepared to ‘walk the walk’, we set our goals out in the beginning and had in mind what we wanted to achieve – that is why we won,” he said.
UWC coach, the legendary Springbok wing of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning side, Chester Williams, said he was not too disappointed. “We were physically outmuscled, their driving mauls and pick-and-goes were great,” he said, adding that UWC will look to acquire more “game-breaker” players in the next season.
Man of the match, Wits number eight Constant Beckerling said that Wits were not that much better than UWC. “The match was physical and intense,” he said. “We were clinical in our approach and stuck to our game plan when things got difficult.”
Varsity Cup operations executive Jean Willers commented that Wits did well to win the Varsity Shield, but the Varsity Cup is a “massive step up” from the shield, and they would need to improve even more.
Angel Ndimande of the University of KwaZulu-Natal was crowned Miss Varsity Shield on the night.
Details: Wits University, 011 717 9417.
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