Tsumeb Gym subdues WBPS
Schools rugby
Compack Tsumeb Gymnasium Private School defeated PSG Walvis Bay Private School (WBPS) with 20-0 in a Standard Bank Namibia Secondary Schools Rugby (NSSR) under-19 premier league match in Tsumeb.Saturday’s victory was a fitting gift for the Tsumeb Gymnasium coach Wouter Niehaus, who celebrated his birthday.
Both teams attacked and defended courageously during the opening stages. Scoring opportunities were created on both sides, but handling errors prevented them from adding points on the scoreboard. WBPS full-back and vice-captain Antua Klein missed two penalty attempts.
Tsumeb Gymnasium’s full-back, FJ Fourie, made good use of the first opportunity that came his way, converting a penalty in the 18th minute (3-0).
Tsumeb Gymnasium systematically started to gain the upper hand with a dominant performance by their forwards. Inside centre Jamie Viljoen eventually breached a stubborn WBPS defence and touched down for the first try of the match in the 34th minute. Fourie added the conversion and made the score 10-0 at halftime.
The visitors from the coast came out firing on all cylinders when play resumed. Tsumeb however kept their opponents at bay and frustrated them when Fourie added another penalty (13-0) in the 54th minute.
Fly-half Jean Devenish rounded off another good build-up with a second try for the hosts in the 64th minute. Fourie added the conversion and made the score 20-0 which stood until the final whistle went.
Tsumeb Gymnasium captain Woutie Nieuhaus commented after the game: “We were a bit rusty after the holiday break. Walvis Bay came hard at us and put up a tough fight.
“Once we sorted out our scrumming, momentum swayed our way. Our focus is on reaching the semi-finals and the final, so we will work twice as hard going forward.”
WBPS captain Herman Lombard said his team came for the win, but that Tsumeb was very physical and deserved the result.
“We still have five games to play and will have to work hard to improve our scrumming technique and to rectify the mistakes we made today.”
Front-runners advance
Travelling to the south, log leaders King Price Windhoek Gymnasium defeated Elnatan 52-8 at Stampriet.
Despite three yellow cards during the match, Gymnasium still had too much ammunition for their hosts. The Lions captain and nr 8 Ruan Agenbag scored three tries, with one each by centre Janré van Zyl, wing Hanré Cocklin, flank Roché Brand and replacements Gert Pretorius (prop) and JD Meintjies.
• Samsung Windhoek High School defeated OK Moria 46-19 at WHS Vegkop Stadium.
WHS consolidated their second position with tries by captain and nr 8 McHenry Kambatuku, left wing Sergio Steenkamp, fly-half William Beukes, centre Eljo Strauss (2), full-back Joshua Moller (2) and replacement back Ignatius Kandowa, against three tries by the visitors from Outo. Conversions were added by Beukes (1), Strauss (1) and Kandowa (2).
• PSG Pro-Ed Academy defeated Autohaus Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 22-17 at Swakopmund.
Up next
The next round of matches on 27 July will see Moria (seventh) taking on Tsumeb Gymnasium (third) in Outjo, Walvis Bay Private School (eighth) will host Elnatan (sixth) in Walvis Bay and Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (fifth) will tackle Windhoek High School (second) at WAP.