The Nelson Mandela Madibaz eventually wore down a determined defensive effort from the Walter Sisulu University All Blacks to claim a bonus-point 34-3 win in their Varsity Shield match-up at the BCM Stadium on Thursday night.
The first 20 minutes it was all Madibaz as they mounted attack after attack and the All Blacks brilliantly kept them out with fantastic tackling.
A yellow card to All Blacks flyhalf Iwandile Mapuko soon after the strategy break after repeated infringements then seemed to peg the home side back, but it instead ignited them as they finally got into the visitors’ half for the first time in the 21st minute before taking the lead in the 25th,
From an attack in their own half the All Blacks kicked an up and under, which wasn't dealt with by the Madibaz, and they were penalised on their 22m line.
This gave All Blacks fullback Lusanda Xakwana a shot at goal, which he converted to give them a 3-0 lead.
The Madibaz set up a monster maul in the 35h minute which allowed hooker Tembekile Boltina to dot down.
Fullback Simon Bolze then slotted a tricky conversion for a 7-3 lead.
It was then heartbreak for the All Blacks on the stroke of halftime when Josiah Twum-Boafo, who came into first receiver at full pace, dotted down.
Madibaz struck in the 58th minute despite good attacking play from the All Blacks.
After they had been denied by a knock on a minute earlier, the Madibaz came firing back into the All Blacks 22m, with recycled ball then finding an overlap on the short side and No 8 Bevan Prinsloo diving over in the left hand corner.
Bolze's conversion attempt hit the uprights and bounced out, leaving the visitors with a 17-3 lead.
The Madibaz continued to fire and six minutes later after a superb period of play that saw 10 phases, Bolze himself burst through a tackle to score towards the right hand corner, with replacement Christopher Hollis conversion attempt just wide.
Twum-Boafo then got his double with two minutes remaining and replacement forward Laken Grey dotted down on the full time hooter to put the icing on the cake for the men from Port Elizabeth’s victory...