WHS Kudu Bulls thrash Elnatan to top log standings
Schools rugby
Moria edged out Windhoek Affies at Outjo to keep their semi-final hopes alive, while Pro-Ed climbed to third place.
In the latest round of the Standard Bank NSSR Under-19 Super League, Windhoek High School (WHS) delivered a commanding performance, defeating Elnatan with an impressive 54-0 victory. The win placed the Samsung WHS Kudu Bulls at the top of the table for the first time this season, now level on points with the King Price Windhoek Gymnasium Lions, (who had a bye weekend) as both the joint champions of 2023 maintain an unbeaten record so far.
The match in Stampriet saw a flurry of tries from WHS’s key players contributing to the team’s win.
The scoring began with a try by WHS lock Isaiah Kazondovi, followed by strong-running nr 8 and captain McHenry Kambatuku, who crossed the line twice.
Dominique Isaaks (scrumhalf) added to the tally with a try of his own, while fly-half McRein van Wyk, centre Soobramoney Sammy, wing Sergio Steenkamp, and full-back Joshua Moller each scored one try.
Moller was in impressive kicking form, converting seven out of eight tries to seal the final score.
Moria beats Affies
At Outjo, the Bears of OK Moria secured a narrow 38-32 victory over Autohaus Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool.
Currently trailing Tsumeb Gymnasium by just five points, fifth-placed Moria's victory earned them crucial points and keeps them firmly in the race for a top-four finish and a place in the semi-finals.
The Moria try-scorers were wings Joseph Martin and Jazario Drotsky, centre Jano Erasmus, flanks Connor Burmeister-Nel and Keyo Kruger and lock Christen van Zyl. Four conversions by centre Bertus Narib was successful.
Pro-Ed climbs to third
At Tsumeb, PSG Pro-Ed Academy overcame a short turnaround from beating PSG Walvis Bay Private School 13-8 on Wednesday afternoon, before travelling to the north and edging out Compack Tsumeb Gymnasium 9-7 in a closely contested match.
Fly-half Maughan Jarman’s three penalties were enough to seal the win for the Swakopmund team, against one of the impressive forward packs in the league.
By virtue of Tsumeb Gym outscoring them one try to none (by lock Emile Kuhn, converted by full-back FJ Fourie) as well as the losing bonus point, the maroon team from the north added six log points to the seven of Pro-Ed.
The weekend results have kept the league competitive as teams look to secure top four spots in the semi-finals.
With only a few games left in the season, the race for the semi-final positions is heating up.
The unbeaten Windhoek Gymnasium Lions continue to impress, matching WHS Kudus stride for stride. The two log leaders’ head-to-head league clash on 17 August at FNB WHS Vegkop Stadium is shaping up to be a memorable occasion.
WHS prop Joshua Bester, a Namibia U20 selection, and Pro-Ed's captain and centre Tayton Saunders, are just two stand-out perfomers that have been instrumental in their respective teams' campaigns.
• Fixtures for Saturday 10 August (home teams first): Moria v Whk Gym; Pro-Ed v Elnatan; WBPS v Whk Affies; WHS v Tsumeb Gym.
• At Stampriet last Saturday in a Standard Bank U15 match, Roots Gymnasium turned on the style to beat WHS 59-8 after leading 31-0 at halftime.