There is a saying in sports that goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again".
It certainly applies to Tuks' women's rugby team. Over the last few years, UJ have proven themselves to be Tuks' nemesis in Varsity Cup rugby. Winning three games on the trot.
It has not deterred Tuks' women. Before last week's Varsity Cup match, Mbali Ndlovu (captain) confidently said that it was high time for Tuks to get the better of UJ. It was not just talk. On Friday in a soggy Johannesburg, Tuks thumped UJ 19-7. A delighted Ndlovu described the victory as a perfect team effort.
"We had each other's backs from the very first to the very last minute. The wet field and rain made play difficult, but we did not let that get us down. We stuck with what we did during training. We kept our mistakes to a minimum. The way we communicated throughout the game also helped.
"The turning point for me came when UJ scored a try. In the past, when that happened, and we took up a position behind the posts, we, as a team, started to doubt our abilities. That didn't happen this time. We high-fived each other and encouraged each other. Then we started playing."
Tuks coach, Lizanne Jacobs, was full of praise for her team.
"I have never seen the team fight so hard for a win. It shows me that the work we have done to sharpen the players' mental toughness is paying off.