The University of Cape Town (UCT) and NWU-Pukke played to a dramatic 29-29 draw in their Varsity Cup clash at the Green Mile in Cape Town on Monday.
The visitors, without a win in Cape Town since the 2009 semifinals, scored a converted try in the dying minutes, flyhalf Gerhard Nortier dotted down and then stepped up to convert his try after his team had looked beaten at 13-29 down with just under ten minutes remaining.
Before this match, the Ikeys needed to win their remaining three matches to sneak into the semifinals - this draw, despite the four-try bonus point, gave them just three points from the game, which could prove costly ahead of their final two league matches.
Prior to the match both teams observed a minute's silence for former UCT and NWU-Pukke winger Dane Johnson who passed away at the weekend after losing his battle with cancer.
Both teams would have been very determined to win it for their former colleague, but it was the Ikeys who registered the day's first points shortly after the 10-minute mark.
Giant tight-head prop Francois van Wyk ran a great line off a pass from fullback Dillyn Leyds, and scored next to the uprights.
Flyhalf Nick Holton added the conversion to make it 8-0.
Two minutes later Van Wyk gave a try-scoring pass to his front row colleague Wes Chetty, the experienced campaigner crashing over for his second Varsity Cup try.
Holton's second conversion made it 16-0, but the visitors started edging their way back into the game - despite playing into a very strong wind -and they were the stronger side after the first strategy break.
Eventually, however, UCT won a penalty on their own line and they were able to boot the ball - thanks to the wind - deep into NWU-Pukke territory.
At that stage UCT had been forced to make 87 tackles compared to NWU-Pukke's 43, but with UCT on the attack, it was Pukke's who had to hold out an attacking Ikeys virtually on their goal-line.
The visitors quickly got themselves out of trouble and found themselves back in UCT's half, flanker Philip de Wet having the presence of mind to dive over a ruck and dot the ball down for their opening points.
Unfortunately for Pukke, flyhalf Gerhard Nortier was unable to add the extra points, but worse was to follow for the visitors when they lost possession from the re-start, allowing speedster Mark Winter to dot down for the home sides third try.
Holton, kicked the three points and his side went into the break at 24-5 up.
It was Pukke, started the second half brightly and they were rewarded for their efforts when scrum-half Tiaan Dorfling found space to dot down. Nortier converted and at 13-24 it was game on.
Leyds then scored the try of the match, racing the length of the field for what seemed the match-winning try, but Holton missed the conversion. But, with a 16 point lead after 70 minutes, UCT would have been breathing the easier of the two sides.
But, the visitors never gave up and captain Joubert Engelbrecht, was rewarded for his sides tenacity going over for the third try, which Nortier converted.
After the final hooter sounded, NWU-Pukke won a penalty and ran at their hosts and Nortier slipped through, to dot down closer to the poles, which made his conversion slightly easier.
The scorers:
UCT: Tries: Leyds 2, Chetty, Winter. Cons: Holton 3
NWU-Pukke: Tries: De Wet, Dorfling, Engelbrecht, Nortier. Cons:
Nortier 3 – Sapa