FNB UJ returned to their home ground on March 2, determined to respond after letting their previous match slip away, despite leading at halftime against FNB Maties.
In their third outing of the FNB Varsity Cup campaign — and second at home — the Orange Army delivered a dramatic 35–29 victory over the FNB NWU Eagles at the UJ Rugby Stadium.
The visitors struck first, when hooker Jordan Mcloughlin crossed in the seventh minute, but UJ scrumhalf Zian Cilliers hit back just two minutes later. Momentum quickly shifted as right winger Ughan Africa powered over for a try, followed by Cilliers capitalising on a loose ball to grab his second. Africa added another before the break, while flyhalf JT Kapank ensured each try was converted.
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Despite a late first-half try from NWU’s Luan Van der Walt, UJ went into halftime in control with a 28–14 lead.
The second half told a different story, as the home side’s lack of discipline saw them reduced to 13 men on the field. The Eagles seized the opportunity, with left flanker Ricardo Fourie crossing the line three times to edge the visitors ahead 29–28.
With less than three minutes remaining, and the result hanging in the balance, UJ captain Thabang Mphafi rose to the occasion. Driving through the centre of the park, he broke the defensive line to score the decisive try and reclaim the lead for the home side.
The late surge secured a 35–29 victory and maintained UJ’s unbeaten run at home this season.
After the disappointment of their previous defeat, the Orange Army made sure their second home fixture counted, turning the UJ Rugby Stadium into a fortress once again.
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