Tuks finish Varsity Shield tournament undefeated and regain their top league status

By beating Madibaz on Friday, Tuks’ rugby team achieved their first goal of the season – to regain their status as one of the competitors in the Varsity Cup tournament next year.

Tuks retained their unbeaten streak in the Varsity Shield league with a 66-24 victory against Madibaz.

Whatever happens in the play-off phase of the tournament, Tuks will be back among the big guns next year as the rules of the competition state that the team that finishes at the top of the log is automatically promoted.

In the semifinals on their home ground this coming Friday, Tuks will face off against Walter Sisulu University.

As has become a norm throughout the tournament, the Tuks captain, Ethan Burger, led from the front, being in the midst of the action at all times. He gained metres with the ball in hand and made big hits. His heroics led to him scoring two tries to take his tally for the tournament to seven. He justly got the Player That Rock award.

However, Burger said after the game that it was again a team effort.

“I was impressed with every single individual that played. There were not any spectacular individual efforts, but it was a fantastic team win. We showed character against Madibaz,” he remarked.

Tuks got off to a bit of a shaky start.

“We scored two quick tries, but we very quickly let them back in the game when they got a penalty try from the maul and Edwin Till got yellow-carded. That put us under lots of pressure. What impressed me was how the team pulled together. It allowed us to take back control of the game. We played the game at our tempo and on our terms, which got us over the line. Our results prove that long, hard hours do pay off. One of our goals was to get promoted back into the Varsity Cup, and we did,” Burger commented.

Till, who plays hooker, said while sitting in the sin bin, it felt like he had let the team down.

“I promised myself when I got back onto the field that I owe it to my teammates to make a difference,” he explained.

Till ended up scoring two tries. It means he is still Tuks’ leading try scorer, with nine to his name in the tournament.

Tharquin Manuel (centre) said what excited him was how Tuks could step up just when it seemed they were losing control.

“The exciting thing is that I don’t think we have even come close to playing at our best,” Manuel said.

Jean-Pierre Wentzel (flyhalf), who succeeded with nine conversions against Madibaz, said credit should go to the coaching staff.

“Our coaches are next-level and open-minded. As players, we can voice an opinion, and they would listen. This is one of the most special teams I have played for. Our squad has so much depth, so who plays does not matter. We are like a band of brothers on and off the field,” Wentzel concluded.

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