Etosha v Mariental – ready for final’s spotlight
Club rugby
The showpiece event of the Namibia Rugby Union's club season features finalists from the Oshikoto and Hardap regions.
Etosha Lions Rugby Club from Tsumeb and Mariental Rugby Club will contest the final of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) first league on Saturday morning at Hage Geingob Stadium.The match will serve to bring out the best the “platteland” has to offer, with two spirited teams advancing despite all odds.
After their respective semi-final wins, both teams’ captains – flyhalf Dion Venter from Mariental and flanker Ben Brockman from Tsumeb – said reaching the final means a lot to not only the rugby clubs, but also the broader town communities to reach the final and to gain exposure on the bigger stage.
The northern and the southern town have both produced formidable teams in previous years. Although the financial pressure of sustained competition also contributed in the past to the clubs going through prolonged dormant periods, renewed efforts are being made to create an upswing.
Two weekends ago, Mariental won the first semi-final in the Hage Geingob Stadium by 39-36 against Vipers from Windhoek. At half-time, the southern team was ahead 22-10, but this lead quickly dried up with a determined fightback by Vipers.
For the winning team, full-back Corné Agenbach, wings Jerome Immanuel and Denilson Clarke, eighth-man and vice-captain Dano Kotze and lock Tonny Isaacks scored tries. Venter converted four of the tries and succeeded with two penalty goals.
Mariental eliminated the 2022 first division champion Sparta 18-15 in its home quarter-final the previous weekend.
DOLPHIN’S WINNING RECORD FALLS
In semi-final 2, Etosha survived by 28-24 against the determined Dolphin team rom Swakopmund – who had won eight out of eight this season, before dominating Okahandja Highlanders 34-3 in the quarter-final.
Etosha, who led 17-13 at half-time, had lost three league matches, including both home and away against Dolphin.
On the big day, however, their victory was down to their determination, as well as the fitness work carried out under their coach Jacques Turner.
Two tries for the winning team were scored by outside centre Divan Steyn (Windhoek Gymnasium’s full-back in 2022, as well as for Namibia U20 to Kenya this year) and one by right wing Corné du Plessis, who in the second half played with his father George who was sent on as a lock from the bench.
Tsumeb’s inside centre Siegfried Potgieter converted one penalty, after he returned to the field from a yellow card. Flyhalf George Turner’s contribution was ten points (two penalties, two goal kicks).
• All finals will be broadcast live on NTV and the NMH platforms, with kick-off times as follows:
NRU Women’s fifteens final, Unam Steenbokkies v United Gemsbokkies, 11:00.
NRU First League final, Mariental v Etosha Leeus, 12:30.
NRU Reserve League final, FNB Grootfontein II v FNB Kudus II, 14:15.
NRU Premier League final, Trustco United I v FNB Wanderers I, 16:00.