Mighty Ikeys head for semis

Tiger in the tank: JP Koster on the run. The Ikey Tigers outscored TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) 52-16 at the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday night. Arch rivals Maties (Stellenbosch) are now in second place on the log, the Pukke in third

The Ikey Tigers have retained their top slot in the inaugural FNB Varsity Cup after beating TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) 52-16 in Pretoria on Monday, taking another step closer to the semi-finals.

Fresh from two consecutive wins, the team put together another fine display of running rugby, running in eight tries to one. Matthew Turner, who scored a brace in a 10-minute cameo against NWU-Pukke (Potchefstroom), added a hat-trick against TUT.

Their second successive win on the road, it was a performance that drew praise even from TUT coach Jimmy Watt. "'I think they will go all the way," he said. "We have seen that any side can beat any other side in this competition. They play a true student brand and they have adapted to the new laws."

He commended their high skills levels. "It doesn't matter if it is a back or a forward, he can get his hands through the tackle and offload to a team-mate. They move the ball around and if you miss one tackle, you stand behind your own goal-line,'" said Watt.

UCT head coach, John Dobson, said TUT were the "most physical and the biggest of the teams" in the competition.