Unam brings surprise result to Kudus
Premier league
Wanderers' first defeat was not enough to change their leading position, while FNB Rehoboth moved up to fourth.
FNB Unam Rugby Club’s first team took hold of the Chandler Plato Challenge floating trophy by defeating FNB Kudus 20-13 in a thrilling NRU premier league match at Jan Wilken Stadium.The match started off at a good tempo with both teams looking to take the lead. Backed by a vibrant crowd, Kudus started off promisingly, but Unam launched concerted efforts and managed to take an 8-0 lead.
During the second half, Unam applied further pressure and built its lead to 13-3.
The Walvis Bay outfit struggled to break through Unam’s stubborn defence, only managing to trim the difference to 13-20 before the end of the match.
Unam’s hooker Bigman Kaura scored one try, while wing Aljarreau Zaahl scored twice. Full-back Lorenzo Louis converted one conversion and a penalty.
Kudus’ replacement Anthony Hoebeb scored one try. Fly-half Aurelio Plato added a conversion and two penalties.
Unam’s captain Graham April said they knew that it was going to be tough. “Kudus were tough, especially up front, but the boys came through and I am very proud of them. We came here with a plan to collect points and that was what drove us through this game.”
• In the earlier match in the NRU reserve league, Kudus II defeated Unam II by 16-7. In the NRU Women’s Fifteens league, Unam Steenbokkies beat Kudu Bokkies 38-0.
De Duine Secondary School’s U19B team defeated Windhoek High School II by 20-10.
Wanderers finally stopped
FNB Wanderers’ unbeaten run this season was finally broken in match number 13, as Trustco United won 46-38 at Gemsbok Park.
Pundits reckoned there would be small margins and that is how it turned out. Each team scored six tries, at halftime they were squared at 24-24 and even after more than an hour they were still locked at 38-38.
The kicking points on the United side eventually made the difference, as well as the determination in the final minutes, along with a botched late decision that cost Wanderers the final try when they were just three points behind.
United’s try scorers were wing Christo Gresse with an intercept, hookers Arnu Gouws and his replacement Gerhard Thirion, replacement loose forward Eloff du Plessis as well as the starters Dean Blom and Feddy Mazila, who scored in the dying seconds to put matters beyond doubt.
Fly-half Renier Benade kicked two penalties (one from the halfway line) and five conversions.
Wanderers’ outside centre Danie van der Merwe (2) and his partner Christo van der Merwe were among the try scorers, along with wing Nandivatu Karuuombe, nr. 8 Driaan Vorster en hooker Obert Nortje. Four conversions by Eugene Jantjies were successful.
Rehoboth’s winning trip
FNB Rehoboth vitally moved up from fifth to fourth (past FNB Western Suburbs) with their determined 61-24 away win over FNB Grootfontein.
Grootfontein scored four tries, but it was not nearly enough to challenge Rehoboth’s nine tries on the day.
For Grootfontein, wing Isaiah Muhinda, scrumhalf Ronald Deck and replacements Christopher Deck and Renard Hattingh scored tries, with Ronald converting twice.
Scrumhalf Miquel Busch (3), wings Dolando Vries (2) and Deevan Mathys led Rehoboth’s try scoring efforts, with more rounded off by centres Hillian Beukes and Nando Dentlinger and flank Jeandree Cloete. Conversions were added by Henrique Olivier (7) and prop Kevin Cloete (1).
• Log standings, news, fixtures and results at www.fnbrugby.my.na/