Qualify for the Varsity Cup semi-finals and the supporters will come, which is exactly what happened in Pretoria as the students turned out in numbers to back their boytjies against the University of the Free State on a perfect autumn evening in the capital city.

It was the visitors who upped the ante in the opening minutes as they attacked in waves causing Tuks to scramble in defence. A cheeky quick tap by scrumhalf Dian Badenhorst almost resulted in a try to UFS Shimlas but the TMO adjudged the ball to have been lost forward. This spurred the home team to get their act together which culminated in flyhalf Tinus de Beer exploiting a gap to put wing Sibahle Maxwane into space to score the opening try in the 12th minute.

Both teams lulled into passages of attack on either side of the first strategy break with neither team able to crack the defensive line. Maxwane was the man to change the status quo in the 26th minute when he jinxed his way past several defenders to score his second try of the night and UP-Tuks' first seven-point try.

A fantastic kick-and-chase by fullback Divan Rossouw several minutes later put the men from Pretoria in the right space to exploit UFS Shimlas' defensive weaknesses which saw scrumhalf and captain Andre Warner score the home team's third try of the evening.

An intercept by fullback Marco Mason on the visitor's five-metre line allowed the abrasive runner to gallop upfield and set the tone for flanker Phumzile Maqondwana to open the Shimlas account with minutes left in the first half. Mason converted to cut the halftime deficit to 23-9.

The halftime chat must have been gruelling for the visitors as they came out of the change room a different team as they put Tuks under the cosh. Several penalties against the Pretoria students allowed Shimlas to set up a line-out drive which saw replacement hooker Hanno Snyman cross the line.

Tuks were forced to contain the visitor's onslaught with 14 men after flank Marco van Staden was yellow carded in the 52nd minute for repeated team transgressions. This set the platform for Shimlas to score their third try through lock Neil Claassen. Mason could not level the scores as his conversion went wide.

Much like in the first half, both teams struggled to break through the defensive line on either side of the strategy break but this did not stop the two universities from running flat out at each other. The deadlock was finally broken when hooker Corniel Els broke off the back of a dominant FNB UP-Tuks driving maul to score in the 72nd minute. De Beer could not extend the lead.

Shimlas continued to press hard on attack in the dying minutes of the match, with the visitors making regular inroads into the opposition's territory but in the end it was not to be as Tuks held on to win 28-21 and thus secure a home final against Maties.

Player that Rocks: Tinus de Beer (Tuks)

Scorers

Tuks (28): Tries - Sibahle Maxwane (five-point, seven-point), Andre Warner, Corniel Els Conv - Tinus de Beer (3) Yellow cards - Marco van Staden

Shimlas (21): Tries - Phumzile Maqondwana (seven-point), Hanno Snyman, Neil Claassen Conv - Marco Mason (2)