Ikey Tigers bank third bonus point against UJ

Full steam ahead: UCT full-back Therlow Pietersen tries to break free of UJ defenders Jaco 'Haas' Snyman (9) and Clinton de Klerk. The Ikey Tigers won 32-12.

The students are back on campus in full force and so were the Ikey Tigers when they banked a 32-12 victory and their third bonus point in last night's match against UJ (University of Johannesburg) at UCT.

With the wind pumping, it's hard to imagine what it must be like for a visiting side from up-country who don't know the conditions. But the boys in blue and white do too well, and they played them perfectly, outscoring UJ by four tries to two.

UCT flyer Dane Johnson put his team ahead when No 10 Matt Rosslee put him though a gap and under the posts after a five-metre scrum. Rosslee added the conversion and UCT were up 7-0 after seven minutes.

UJ who played against the wind, had a penalty awarded just after the re-start, but their kicker pushed his attempt just wide off the posts, struggling against the gusts. Rosslee, with the wind at his back had fewer problems, adding three points from a penalty to make it 10-0 after 20 minutes.

The visitors found their bearings against the wind and when they were awarded a penalty, which they played and were rewarded with a try to bring the score to 10-5.
But that was as close as it got.

The Ikey Tigers used the wind to camp in the UJ half, where it was Rosslee again who put his fullback Therlow Pietersen into a gap to score untouched.

UJ again failed to convert a penalty attempt just before the half time hooter and it was the Ikey Tigers who had the last word. Johnson scored a crucial third try, his second, after the UCT forwards made some hard yards. Rosslee added the conversion and UCT went into the break 24-5.

The visitors came out of the change room firing and immediately used the wind advantage to pile on pressure, scoring and converting.

Now JJ Gagiano's team showed off their mastery of the conditions, playing it safe and keeping possession. With the team dominating against the wind it was Tiger Bax who scored his side's bonus point try in the 60th minute after a break from Marcello Sampson.

Man of the Match Matt Rosslee added the final points through another three-pointer to give his team a 20-point lead with ten minutes on the clock. The team's sights are now firmly set on a semi-final spot.