NWU maintain on for Varsity Cup glory
The NWU Eagles survived a second-half onslaught from the UCT Ikey Tigers to safe their first Varsity Cup title since 2016 in an exhilarating remaining in Potchefstroom on Monday evening.
A brace from hooker Vernon Paulo, to go together with a strive from fullback Tino Swanepoel set the bodily dominant Eagles on their technique to victory because the hosts went into the break 11 factors forward at half time, earlier than they have been made to work arduous within the second half to win 27-25.
FULL TIME and the @theNWU Eagles have held on in a thriller to beat the @ikeytigers by two factors to win the FNB Varsity Cup 2023 event!
FNB NWU 27 – 25 FNB UCT#RugbyThatRocks proudly dropped at you by @FNBSA , @SteersSA and @Suzuki_ZA pic.twitter.com/UbCBOBfIXa
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 17, 2023
It was simply NWU’s second Varsity Cup title and their first remaining win on dwelling soil, with their earlier win coming on the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
For elements of the second half, it appeared that there could possibly be a repeat of the notorious 2014 remaining, when the Ikey Tigers got here from behind and snatched the title from NWU’s arms with a strive after the hooter.
UCT got here out firing after the break and closed the hole when lock Rynhardt Crous went over for a transformed point-of-origin strive from shut vary, after some improbable continuity between forwards and backs. The guests then virtually took the lead, however for a knock-on from Duran Koevort after a improbable linebreak from the fullback.
Crous in the home! 21 phases for the @ikeytigers and Reynhart Crous provides his identify to the scoresheet.#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/hjiqr2P8n1
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 17, 2023
Swanepoel’s second strive prolonged NWU’s lead, however UCT made it a nervous end when substitute unfastened ahead Jacques van der Walt dived over to convey the guests to inside three factors of the lead.
One other second of magic from Tino Swanepoel!
He collects the tactical kick after which places in a scrumptious grubber and chases it down for his @theNWU brace!#RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/F7ojwUNfPV
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 17, 2023
Strive as they could, UCT couldn’t discover their manner by the Eagles defence for a possible winner as the house facet held on for a memorable win.
NWU EAGLES ARE THE 2023 VARSITY CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cL0YQIIb6d
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 17, 2023
The celebration in Potch will go lengthy into the evening because the NWU Eagles obtain the Varsity Cup trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/lkfSKy27R6
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 17, 2023
Picture: BARCO GREEFF
