Venter stars again in Tuks’ victory against Walter Sisulu University
The Tuks rugby team is still on course to restore their lost honour in the Varsity Shield tournament, after they achieved their third consecutive victory in this league on Friday.
The one thing that matters to Marco Venter every time he dons Tuks coveted “Stripes” is to get the team to attack the advantage line.
In other words, it is to get the team closer to the try line. When looking at Tuks’s results in the Varsity Shield Tournament, the bulky number 8 is certainly succeeding. In their last two games, Tuks scored 15 tries. Venter, himself, dotted down once. His heroics have not gone unnoticed. For the second consecutive week, Venter became the Player that Rocks.
The past Friday in East London, Tuks outplayed Walter Sisulu University, winning 41-17. The result means that Tuks is topping the log with 15 points after three games. Varsity College is also unbeaten with 15 points, but they conceded more points. The Madibaz from Port Elizabeth is the other unbeaten team with 14 points.
Friday will be a big one when Tuks face Varsity College at home. It is going to be a classic scenario of experience versus guts. Tuks has won the Varsity Cup on four occasions. The only reason Tuks are playing in the Shield Tournament is because of their annus horribilis performance last year, losing seven games on the trot. Varsity College is the new team in the tournament. So far, they have been impressive.
In 2022, Venter played for the Tuks u.20 team that won the Varsity Young Guns Tournament. He has one Varsity Cup game to his name.
When asked about his best quality playing as a number 8, Venter does not hesitate, saying it is to build up momentum.
“I only started to play eight-man when I came to Tuks. I loved it from day one. As an eight-man, you have more freedom to run with the ball. To me, it does not matter whether I gain five metres or 20 metres with the ball in hand. My role is to get the team to go forward and to create scoring opportunities for the back line,” he remarked.
Venter credits his dad as being his role model.
“My dad often tells me that talent alone will bring you only so far. The real heroes are those prepared to put in the long, hard hours day after day. I am striving to do so. The former Springbok Warren Whiteley is proved enough to me that doing so does pay dividends,” Venter concluded.
Friday’s kick-off between Tuks and Varsity College is at 17:00. The Tuks women’s team will play the Bulls Daisies in a curtain raiser at 14:45.
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