WBPS aim to topple Tsumeb Gym
Schools rugby
PSG Walvis Bay Private School (WBPS) will take on Compack Tsumeb Gymnasium Private School in a Standard Bank Namibia Secondary Schools Rugby (NSSR) under-19 premier league match in Tsumeb on Saturday.The two teams share the spoils with each having won one of the two head-to head clashes during the most recent seasons. WBPS defeated Tsumeb 39-7 last year at Naartjie Park, after Tsumeb celebrated a narrow home win (15-12) in 2019 against the coastal side. Following the two years lost to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tsumeb did not enter their team for the 2022 Standard Bank premier league.
Tsumeb is third on the current log with 18 points from one win and two losses after three matches. They scored 66 points and conceded 84 points. Tsumeb defeated Elnatan (43-24), followed by defeats dealt to them by Windhoek Gymnasium (0-36) and Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (23-24).
Coach Wouter Niehaus said his charges are prepared for a tough and very physical game against WBPS.
“It is going to be fun and we are looking forward to this home game after enjoying the holiday break. We know that the visitors will bring their A game. Some of our players were on tour and represented Namibia at the U18 Academy Week in South Africa. We will have to shake off any rustiness and get back to full speed to maintain our challenge in this year’s league.”
Niehaus expects that WBPS will meet a well-oiled Tsumeb Gymnasium.
“They should come prepared. We have nearly all our injured players back except for Russel Bartlett (eighthman/lock) who broke his thumb and who will be out for a couple of weeks. Some players had the flu this week and we will know by Friday if they are available.”
Bartlett was one of two Tsumeb selections for the Namibia U18 team this year, along with prop Juric van der Berg.
On the WBPS side, their captain and lock Herman Lombard, hooker Tiaan van der Westhuizen and flank Hanlo Schoeman represented Namibia U18 in Johannesburg. Both schools also had individuals at the U16 Grant Khomo Week.
Naartjies
The visitors from the coast have yet to score a win this season, from two attempts. WBPS is placed at the bottom of the log in eighth position with six points from two defeats suffered at the hands of Windhoek High School (18-54 at Vegkop) and Windhoek Gymnasium (34-7 at the Lions’ Den).
WBPS scored 25 points and conceded 88.
“It is always tough playing Tsumeb Gymnasium away. This will be our last away match and it would be excellent to come away from it with a win. Some of our players picked up injuries while doing national duty and we were necessitated to call up some youngsters,” said Morné Rust, the coach of WBPS.
Rust said he anticipates a very physical game. “They are solid up front and we will have to move the ball very fast to our backline. Our players know what they are capable of and just need to trust in the system.”
He also thanked Tsumeb Gymnasium for accommodating WBPS and his team’s main sponsor PSG for supporting the team.
The match will be broadcast live with the action starting from 09:45 on NTV and oneuptwo.com/ntv. The link will also be shared on the Facebook pages of Sport Wrap, My Zone and Republikein.
Other fixtures
Elnatan (fourth, one win from two) will take on unbeaten log leaders King Price Curro Windhoek Gymnasium at Stampriet.
PSG Pro-Ed Academy (fifth) will host Autohaus Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (sixth) at Swakopmund, while second-placed Samsung Windhoek High School will face OK Moria (7th) from Outjo at WHS Vegkop Stadium.