Setback for United as Wanderers wins
Club rugby
Bonus points brought the three contenders for fourth spot closer together.
FNB Wanderers would have taken much confidence from clinching a narrow 18-15 home win against arch-rivals Trustco United on Saturday, retaining momentum towards the knock-out phase of the NRU premier league.United, locked in a tight three-way race with FNB Grootfontein and FNB Reho Falcon to qualify for the fourth-place finish and the semi-final, were behind on the scoreboard for most of the 80 minutes, but finished strongly and may well have won the match if they had any playing time left.
Defending title holders United’s fly-half Hanreco van Zyl struck the first penalty, but Wanderers scored the next two tries. First the speedy left wing Jurgen Meyer beat some defenders and was brought down just short of the line, for nr. 8 Driaan Vorster to barge over from close range, before Meyer was put into space to out-sprint the defence for a try of his own.
Wanderers fly-half Geraldo Beukes’ one from two conversions put the hosts 12-3 ahead and hanging on, despite United enjoying extended periods of applying pressure in their opponents’ half. The Philistines managed to cross the goal-line late in the first half, but was ruled to be held up.
A sweetly-struck Beukes drop goal sailed through United’s uprights soon after the resumption for the second half, to make the score 15-3. United finally found some joy when a planned move from a scrum put right wing Edgar Beuthin away for a well-finished try in the right-hand corner, which Jahno du Plessis could not convert.
Beukes added three points for Wanderers with a penalty, before United had the last say when captain and centre JD Nel pounced on a kick bounce in the Wanderers goal area, for a try which Du Plessis converted.
The result consolidates Wanderers’ second log position, with only FNB Unam ahead of them. A full 20 log points now separates the top-three teams from the rest.
United, who added one losing bonus point, remains stuck in fifth place.
Kudus lay down another marker
At Walvis Bay, FNB Kudus loose forwards Ja-Tamson van der Berg (two tries) and the returning Joshua Jacobs (one try) as well as full-back Irongwa Atshivudhi helped establish their close 25-21 win over visiting FNB Grootfontein.
One conversion and one penalty by Kudus fly-half Aurelio Plato helped put their nose in front against the ever-determined competitors from the north.
Grootfontein scored three tries, through centre Niel Holtzhausen, replacement forward Saari Uugwanga and replacement back Ian Malan. Right wing Uroél Marais added all three conversions.
Falcon stays in the hunt
FNB Reho Falcon, beaten by Wanderers in their previous match, took full advantage of the visit of struggling Simonis Storm Dolphin, scoring seven tries to add the maximum six log points in a 47-15 win.
Falcon’s try scorers were centres Shaun Mouton and Nando Dentlinger, scrumhalf Dillon Kahman, loose forwards Boris Majiedt and Cameron Markus (captain), lock Tony Isaacs and replacement fly-half Franklin Busch. Successful conversions were shared between Enrique Husselman (3), full-back Ashton van Wyk (2) and Majiedt (1).
The Swakopmund team recorded two tries, both scored by fly-half Kapurua Tjiriange. Centre Nathan Isaacs managed one conversion and a penalty.
Reho Falcon (sixth on 32 points from 12 matches) still has a live chance to overtake United (fifth, 32 from 13 matches) and Grootfontein (fourth, 33 from 13).
Busch excels in Khomasdal
At Suburbs Park, FNB Rehoboth won 43-28 against FNB Western Suburbs in the meeting between teams 7 and 8 on the log, whose placings remain unchanged.
For Rehoboth, Miquel Busch (centre, instead of his usual scrumhalf position) excelled with five penalties and four conversions, for the 23 points that separated the teams who scored four tries each.
Rehoboth left wing Manfred Garoeb (two tries), lock Duante Beukes and replacement Digo Ashipale (one try each) also got on the scoreboard.
Suburbs supporters had tries by centres Jayden Links and Morgan Esterhuizen, as well as replacements Nafimene Halweendo and Dumarcho Hartung to cheer about, with conversions by full-back Elmarco Beukes (3) and replacement Dwaine van Zyl.
NRU reserve league
At Walvis Bay: Kudus II 55-10 Grootfontein II.
At Wanderers: Wanderers II 35-23 United II.
In Khomasdal: Western Suburbs II 36-19 Rehoboth II.
At Rehoboth: Reho Falcon II 25-21 Dolphin II.
NRU Women’s Fifteens League
At Wanderers: United Gemsbokkies beat Wanderers Bokkies 37-19.
At Walvis Bay: Oceans beat Rehoboth Bokkies 41-19.