It was a near-perfect start for FNB Wits when they outsmarted newcomers FNB UWC 66-10 in Bellville at the UWC Sport Stadium. A healthy 31-10 halftime lead meant the visitors had secured the bonus point when the siren sounded.
Nine tries to a solo 38th-minute try from UWC’s second rower Louan De Lange is testament to an all-round clinical and disciplined display of rugby by the visiting side.
Relentless attacking phases by the visiting side forced the home team to make several tackles in the opening quarter of the match with loose forward Kelvin Kanenungo and scrumhalf Hassiem Pead making sure Wits got across the advantage with ease. The home side’s woes were compounded when their captain Tasriq Mynhardt sustained an injury in the first half forcing him off the field.
Wits scored three tries to one in the final ten minutes of the opening stanza. Ngia Selengbe, Pead, and veteran second-rower Cal Smid added their names to the try-scoring sheet. Setshaba Mokoena kept the scoreboard ticking over with three successful conversions from his five attempts.
The visitors picked up the pace where they left it in the opening half, Grobbelaar completing a brace of tries with a try apiece coming from Kabelo Mokheti and Elizee Kwitonda.
UWC made a few promising runs but the defensive resolve and discipline from the visitors meant that they were restricted to a solo first-half try.