Wanderers take outright lead
Rugby
FNB Wanderers took the outright lead in the NRU premier league and took some revenge for their only loss on the opening weekend, when they narrowly beat FNB Unam 27-24 at the Wanderers field.Before Saturday’s match, the pair of leading clubs were level on 38 league points each, with Wanderers ahead on points difference.
Flyhalf André van der Berg’s winning points through a drop goal in the final minute now puts Wanderers ahead by three log points against their main rival.
Wanderers and Unam delivered a closely-fought battle, with the lead never stretching beyond seven points.
For Wanderers, right wing Tonderai Ndudzo (ex-Unam) rounded off twice before halftime, before flank Darius von Solms scored off a lineout drive in the second half. Van der Berg added three conversions and with the score level at 24-24, he pulled the trigger on the winning drop goal.
Von Solms later moved to hooker to replace Obert Nortje, who left the field in obvious discomfort with an intercostal muscle injury.
Unam showed class in creating their tries for fullback Aljarreau Zaahl, hooker Gerhard Thirion and wing Shareave Titus. Zaahl (4) and replacement flyhalf Johannes Mwenyo (5) added kicking points.
Dolphin shocks Rehoboth
FNB Rehoboth, a semi-finalist in recent seasons, suffered a setback as Simonis Storm Dolphin got the first win of their struggling season at Swakopmund (31-29).
On a memorable day for Dolphin, wings Jennery Xamseb and Rashaad van Rooyen, lock Sheiton Besser, replacement Keanu Engelbrecht and a penalty try ensured their first bonus point for four tries. Flyhalf Kenan Walters landed two conversions.
Rehoboth had to be content with two bonus points, following tries for Hillian Beukes, Kee-Shan Beukes, Xauvier van Wyk and Coburn Claasen. Henrique Olivier kicked three conversions and a penalty.
United resurgent
FNB Grootfontein’s struggles in away matches continued as they narrowly went down 20-15 against Trustco United in Olympia.
Tries by JD Nel, PJ Ilonga and Johan Brockmann with one conversion and a penalty by Ricardo Swartz, were enough for United’s win.
Grootfontein replied with two tries (Ian Malan and Martinus Nekundi), with a conversion (Uroél Marais) and a penalty (AJ Vercuil).
Kudus stop Falcon
At Rehoboth, FNB Reho Falcon were beaten for the first time since 13 April when FNB Kudus overcame them 30-28.
Kudus’ try scorers were Irongwa Athivudhi, Ja-Tamson van den Berg, Chandler Davids and Suramie Kambombo. Flyhalf Kyle Wentzel played a crucial role with two conversions and two penalties.
For Falcon, centre Franklin Busch landed six penalties to go along with tries by Prince January and Cameron Markus.