BRITS POS – BRITS - FNB UFS Shimlas are the 2024 FNB Varsity Cup champions after beating FNB UCT Ikeys 45-42 in an epic final at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein on Monday evening.
The Shimlas snatched the win on the stroke of full-time thanks to an Ethan Wentzel penalty, giving them their title since 2015.
Shimlas scrumhalf Jandré Nel was named the FNB Player That Rocks and judging by his face after the game, one could see it truly was a matter of blood, sweat and tears that led the team of Bloemfontein to this fantastic moment.
The Ikeys got off to a very fast start with Keagan Blanckenberg and Jonathan Roche scoring for the visitors. Nel stuck back for the Shimlas with his first try, before the hooker Liyema Mgwigwi also got in on the action for the hosts.
Rethabile Louw dotted down from an intercept and Duran Koevort sliced through the defence for his five-pointer for UCT. Ethan Wentzel then scored for the hosts while Mgwigwi completed his brace on the stroke of half-time. Ikeys had their noses in the lead by 31-26. A defining moment in the game was Nel’s second try early in the second half, which was later upgraded to a point-of-origin try. Siviwe Zondani also scored for the home team. Bryan le Roux levelled matters for the Ikeys and they could have won the game with two minutes to play, but Ntokozo Makhaza missed the conversion.
With the game level at 42-42 it was heading to extra time, but two minutes after the hooter, the Shimlas were awarded a penalty. What was arguably the most important kick of his life, Wentzel split the uprights to hand his team the well-deserved victory.
