Suburbs v Reho Falcon: Neither lacks self-belief
Club rugby
FNB Western Suburbs hosts FNB Reho Falcon in a Namibia Rugby Union premier league round 10 clash at 15:45 at Suburbs Park in Khomasdal on Saturday. Namibia Media Hub (NMH)'s production team will broadcast this match live on NTV, DStv channel 285 and GOtv channel 25 with pre-match interviews starting at 15:30.
Western Suburbs (16 points) is placed in eighth position out of nine teams and will be looking to maintain their winning streak by adding the scalp of the visitors from Rehoboth to their tally this weekend.
Suburbs have rediscovered their winning ways with a 22-8 victory against Dolphin last weekend and a 24-23 win over Kudus on 1 June.
Coach Jacky Bock expects a tough, open and a hard running rugby match. “They defeated us 21-17 in the first round. Pride is at stake and we are geared for them. We share close rugby ties with players and even officials moving between the two clubs.”
Bock added that Suburbs struggled to find form in the first round and have a point to prove.
“Our group is now more stable with the players strictly enforcing the playing pattern. We still intend to disrupt the league. At Swakopmund the team struggled in the heat against Dolphin and we hope for better conditions at home this weekend.”
He confirmed that Howard Gawachab (nr 8 and captain), veteran Justin Nel (fly-half or fullback) and Jonathan Goliath (hooker) will be making a much welcomed return to the starting lineup.
Reho Falcon, placed in fifth position with 25 points, would want to bounce back immediately after their narrow 30-28 home defeat handed to them by Kudus on 8 June.
Falcon coach Frank Isaacs says the aim is to finish in the top four. “We will do all in our power to achieve this.”
Preparations went well, he said, and added that he expected it to be tougher than when they played Suburbs in the first round.
“We have a couple of injuries with Jerome Schuman (lock) being the most noteworthy one. Enrique Husselmann (wing and fullback), Shaun Mouton (centre and wing) and Zabian Campbell (hooker) are all returning from the injury list to the action this week.”
Isaacs said his side would focus on their own game plan. “Suburbs has a heavy pack and a fast moving backline. We will look to move the ball and are capable of matching their hard-running style. I expect our players to enforce our game plan.”
In other matches FNB Grootfontein (fourth with 25 points) will take on Simonis Storm Dolphin (ninth with 5 points) at Grootfontein. FNB Kudus (third with 32 points) host FNB Wanderers (second with 42 points) in an enticing match-up at Walvis Bay.
In Olympia, Trustco United (sixth with 25 points) will look to lay down a banana skin for front-runners FNB Unam (44 points).