FNB Wits drew first blood in the 2023 FNB Varsity Cup with a strong second-half showing against FNB CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein on Monday afternoon, coming away with a 59-49 victory.

Flanker Mark Snyman was the hero for the team from Johannesburg with tries on either side of half-time as his team fired a clear warning shot to their rivals for the rest of the tournament.

Wits started their campaign like a house on fire to race to a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes of the match courtesy of a converted try by Lindokuhle Ncusane. Further tries by the winger Wian le Grange, Snyman, and Kabelo Mokheti saw the visitors leading the match 31-28 at the break. CUT hooker Tokelo Ntapane kept his team in the game with a hat trick before the end of the opening stanza.

It took 14 minutes for Snyman to open the scoring in the second half. Tries by Azakhiwe Afrika, Banele Mthenjane and De Lange, sealed the deal for the visitors, but CUT wasn't quite done. Tries by Ulrich Stander, Maboe Sekele and Thabiso Mkhwebane kept them in the hunt, but in the end, it was just a bridge too far for the home team.

FNB Wits 59 (31) - Tries: Lindokuhle Ncusane, Wian de Lange (2), Mark Snyman (2), Kabelo Mokhethi, Azakhiwe Afrika, Banele Mthenjane. Conversions: Chris Rheeder (5).

FNB CUT 49 (28) - Tries: Tokelo Ntapane(3), Zachery Bester, Ulrich Stander, Thabiso Mkhwebane, Maboe Sekele. Conversions: Christian Humphries (7)Penalties: Christian Humphries (1).

FNB Player That Rocks: Mark Snyman (Wits)

Source: Varsity Cup

Uploaded: 21 February 2023