The Shimlas of the University of the Free State on Monday night fought hard to claim a 26-15 bonus-point win against Tuks and consolidate their position at the top of the Varsity Cup log.

The match was played in inclement weather. Heavy rain in Bloemfontein on Monday took its toll on the pitch and many feared that the conditions might inhibit the hosts’ attacking ambitions.

Those fears proved unfounded, though, when Shimlas took the fight to the highly-rated Tuks pack and then unleashed their dangerous backs to score three tries inside 35 minutes in the first half.

The players left the field for a brief period due to lightning in the area. When the teams returned, Shimlas struggled to regain the initiative.

Tuks hit back in the second half via two well-executed mauls. Stefan Coetzee’s conversion brought the visitors within four points of the hosts with nine minutes left on the clock.

Unfortunately for Tuks, the hosts had the final say, though, scoring in the last minute to secure the four-try bonus point and an important win.

With one round to play, Shimlas are well placed to top the Varsity Cup log. They will meet the struggling Madibaz of Port Elizabeth in their last league match and basically only need a draw or two bonus points to book a home semi-final.

By contrast, Tuks – who claimed no log points from the fixture in Bloem – will have to win in an away game against UJ next week to advance to the semi-finals. Both UJ and the Pukke from Potchefstroom are currently blowing in Tuks’ neck on the log, with 24 points each against Tuks’ 25. The Pukke play against Wits in their last game in the league phase.

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