Wounded Suburbs lose ground
FNB Western Suburbs’ position in the top four of Namibia Rugby Union’s Premier League came under threat as a result of their home defeat to FNB Wanderers on Saturday – as both FNB Rehoboth (fifth) and FNB Grootfontein closed the points gap between them and semi-final contention.Round 11 was concluded on Saturday, with FNB Wanderers in dominant form at the Hage Geingob Stadium, running out 52-19 winners against Gino Wilson’s Khomasdal team.
Leading 26-7 at halftime, Wanderers were rarely threatened and were especially effective using their lineouts as a base for their attacks with both forwards and backs.
Wanderers’s eight tries were scored by fullback Denzo Bruwer, wings Ryan Coetzee and Nandivatu Karuuombe, centre Nico Maartens, flank Driaan Vorster (2) and hooker Obert Nortje (2).
Conversions were added by fly half André van der Berg (5) and Bruwer (1), as yellow cards to Erik Strauss (46th minute), Thomasau Forbes (54th minute) and Van der Berg (80th minute) did little to stem the flow.
Suburbs replied with tries by hooker Vernon Diergaardt, wing Gino Wilson, and prop Chemigan Beukes, of which two were converted by fullback Ricardo Swartz.
AT GROOTFONTEIN
Teams five and six on the log played a humdinger of a match in the northern town, as visiting FNB Rehoboth made an incredible comeback to narrowly finish 42-41 ahead at the final whistle.
Despite the defeat, Grootfontein managed the rare feat of adding three bonus points – two for scoring seven tries, as well as the losing bonus point by keeping the difference at seven points or less.
“Grootfontein destroyed us in the first 40 minutes to lead 34-14 by halftime, but injections off the bench from Cliven Loubser, Ascher Coetzee and Chester Diergaardt swung the momentum so that we scored the next 28 points without reply from the opponents. Grootfontein then added the final try to finish at 41, one behind us,” said Rehoboth coach Gerald Benade.
Grootfontein’s seven tries were scored by wings Romanzo Lento (2) and Ian Malan, centre Buruxa Geiseb, number 8 Johan Luttig, lock Tehan Martinson, hooker Wikus Jacobs. Fly half Sergio Dinniz landed three conversions.
Rehoboth replied with six tries – by wing Elmarco Beukes (2), flank Chase Diergaardt (2), scrum half Miquel Busch and flank Dihlen Daries. The Rooi Bulle kickers’ accuracy also proved decisive in the outcome, as conversions were added by fly half Geraldo Beukes (2), Diergaardt and replacement back Ascher Coetzee 3.
AT UNITED
The University of Namibia put their struggling win over Rehoboth the previous weekend behind them, as they gave Trustco United a whopping 54-10 defeat in Olympia.
Right wing Darryl Wellman (four tries) and left wing Shareave Titus (3) were the stars of the show, with in-form number 8 Oderich Mouton adding their eighth try of the match. Lorenzo Louis, fullback, added seven conversions.
United’s tries were scored by hooker and captain Elof du Plessis, as well as Thomas Kali who came off the bench. The home side lost scrum half Pieter Janse van Vuuren to a yellow card.
AT REHOBOTH
FNB Reho Falcon put up a feisty performance against log leaders FNB Kudus, but the visitors manage to win the encounter 52-30.
Kudus’s centre pairing of Justin Newman and PJ Walters each ran in two tries, along with one each by Nr 8Charlton Brussel, flank Clayton Camm, lock Codey Naholo and hooker Jarren Koning. Conversions were contributed by fly half Aurelio Plato (4) and replacements Percy Nash (1) and Chad Plato (1).
Reho Falcon fought back with one try each by scrum half Dylan Kahman, centre Liam Parker and fullback Enrique Husselmann, with the latter also successful with three conversions and three penalties.
The respective second teams’ NRU Reserve League results: Wanderers beat Suburbs 27-21; Unam beat United 24-21; Kudus beat Falcon 42-7; Rehoboth beat Grootfontein 24-14.
Fixtures for Saturday 30 July (home teams first): Rehoboth v Trustco United; Western Suburbs v Grootfontein; Unam v Reho Falcon; Kudus v Wanderers.