Ryan Strudwick’s UKZN Impi side recorded a stunning 42-0 victory over the UFH Blues last night to secure their place in the Varsity Shield final for the second year running.
Last year’s side won only four of their league matches in a very topsy-turvy round robin phase, but the side has improved on that ratio this year, losing only twice in eight outings. Both of those defeats have come against newly relegated Varsity Cup side Wits and the odds will be stacked against Strudwick’s boys as they take on the Johannesburg side in the final.
Last night’s result, though, was a corker, especially for contracted Sharks centre Marius Louw, who scored three tries in a man of the match performance. Louw emerged as the team’s top try scorer of the season, amazingly having scored 8 tries in just three games, with two hat tricks and a brace.
Impi scored six in total at Howard College last night, with lock Ado Wessels, scrumhalf Langa Shange and number 8 Retief Marais (the younger brother of former Sharks locks Jandre and Peet) all joining Louw on the score sheet.
UKZN Impi (42): Tries Louw(3), Wessels, Shange, Marais. Conversions: Dube (4)
UFH Blues (0): Ag shame!

Great result! Well done Impi!
wo ‘nanz’ impiyeza!
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Are these games broadcast?
or rather, wo “nans” Impi iyeza to be completely accurate. Apologies to my Zulu readers
@vanmartin (Comment 3) : I’m sure the final will be
Well done boys!
Haha…”Ag shame!”
Do you have a team sheet for last night, Rob?
@pastorshark (Comment 8) :
FNB UKZN-Impi: 15 Siphatisene Dube, 14 Shayne Makombe, 13 Alwayno Visagie, 12 Marais Louw, 11 Hendrik Lategan, 10 Rowan Gouws, 9 Langelihle Shange, 8 Retief Marais, 7 Sanele Malwane, 6 Lwazi Ngcungama (captain), 5 Adam Wessels, 4 David Harel, 3 Njabulo Mkize, 2 Chris de Beer, 1 Matthew Mandioma.
Replacements: 16 Mikyle Webster, 17 Sizwe Kubheka, 18 Christiaan van der Merwe, 19 Kwezi Puza, 20 Graham Koch, 21 Yandisa Mdolomba, 22 Sandile Zulu, 23 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Thanks…
Good luck for the final men. In the second game against Wits they were a lot better than in the first. Let’s hope the improvement continues!
@pastorshark (Comment 10) : exactly
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Will this final be for promo/relegation, is that that only on the table next year again?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : only next year.
I’ve spoken to Strudwick about that. He’s actually not too phased. Doesn’t want to end up getting promoted this year only to come straight back down next year. Reality is there’s a big gulf between the Cup and the Shield and he rather wants to take a bit of time to build the right structure and a good squad capable of challenging in the Cup.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Cool, good to know…Impi is doing quite well, reaching the final twice in as many years.
Clearly this is something Smit has been able to bring to the Sharks…a strong Varsity cup side should translate into stronger age group teams as well as a carrot for recruiting young players.
We all saw what happened to CUT whilst running with the big boys. Another year playing for the Shield would do more for them then getting klapped week in week out.
well at least some good news today!!!!!!!!!! Congrats boys!!!! and good luck for the final!!!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 13) : @JarsonX (Comment 15) : ja that’s good to hear. The guys will be ready for next year!!!
@JarsonX (Comment 15) : Don’t entirely agree with that. The player turnover in the tournament doesn’t really allow for the same players year in and year out. Think there is an age limit in Varsity Cup.
yes CUT is getting smacked silly, but surely, they will learn to cope with the faster pace of Varsity Cup, only by playing in it. So you slap the other teams in the Varsity Shield, how will that better prepare you for Varsity Cup level?