Tuks outmuscled the University of Johannesburg (UJ) 47-24 at UJ Stadium to win the Young Guns Final earlier this week.

Conditions were perfect on Tuesday afternoon in Johannesburg, as Tuks met UJ for the 2016 Young Guns Final.

Tuks were off to a perfect start when Jordan Holgate crashed through beneath the posts for their first score of the match. UJ soon equalised with a try of their own in the 11^th minute, by Number eight, Morney Moos. The score was 8-8 going into the 20^th minute strategy break.

But in the 32^nd minute Tuks’ possession counted, as they scored their second try of the match. Flyhalf Christo Hamman broke through the UJ defence. Hamman scored his second and Tuks’ third just minutes later, sending his team into half time with a 21-8 lead.

Tuks used their wings well and enjoyed most of the possession again in the opening minutes of the second half. They spent a lot of time in UJ’s 22 and pressure told as three unanswered tries put Tuks 39-8 ahead with 26 minutes to play.

UJ eventually managed to get their hands on the ball and great distribution to the backline set up the pacey Odwa Nkunjana for a try.

Replacement Tristan Eve scored an opportunistic try after a bit of quick thinking at the lineout and Tuks were suddenly on the back foot, but still leading 39-24.

But a try by replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar in the 72^nd minute put the result beyond doubt. Tuks were too strong for UJ, winning the Young Guns Final 47-24.

Tuks’ big lock, Hendre Stassen, was namend Man of the Match.

Scorers:

UJ: 24. Tries: Morney Moos, Odwa Nkunjana, Tristan Eve. Cons: Eduard Fouché (3)

Tuks: 47. Tries: Jordan Holgate (2), Christo Hamman (2), Jan-Henning Campher, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Johan Grobbelaar. Cons: Christo Hamman (4)

Teams:
UP-Tuks Young Guns: 15 Ivan Smit, 14 Mervano da Silva, 13 Heino Bezuidenhout, 12 Jordan Holgate, 11 Ciaran Dayaram, 10 Christo Hamman, 9 Raegan Oranje, 8 Denzil Hill, 7 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Hendre Stassen, 4 Sam Mitchell, 3 Jaco Holtzhausen, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Franco van der Berg.  Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Ruben van Heerdan, 19 Dean van der Westhuizen, 20 Stephan Enslin, 21 Sentle Lehoko, 22 Brendan Owen, 23 Tiny Mukhari

UJ Young Guns: 15 Curtis Jonas, 14 Odwa Nkunjana, 13 Johann Vermaak, 12 Johannes van Tonder, 11 Vuyo Shongwe, 10 Eduard Fouche, 9 Wynand Botha, 8 Morney Moos, 7 Juandre Michau, 6 James Venter, 5 Kevin du Randt, 4 Adriaan Bester, 3 Sarel Smith, 2 Le Roux Baard, 1 Hannriel Coetzee. Replacements:  16 Willem du Plessis, 17 Johan Meyer, 18 Thokozani Skhosana, 19 Martin Mangwiro, 20 Tristan Eve, 21 Morne van der Berg, 22 Jonathan Koyana, 23 Stephen Bashera