Falcon earn draw at United
Club rugby
The Rehoboth team had a draw and a heavy defeat against United in the previous season.
FNB Reho Falcon honoured the memory of their fallen club mates with a spirited performance in Saturday’s 21-21 draw against defending champions Trustco United at Gemsbok Park in Olympia.Playing for the first time since the postponement of two fixtures in the aftermath of the fatal road accident on 13 April that killed the club’s chairman Ettienne Coetzee and his sons Edmando (the first team captain) and Ethan, the visitors made a strong start to take a 14-0 lead.
Although United scored the next three tries to equalise and surpass them on the score board, the black, red and white team struck the final blow to ensure that the teams share two log points each. The result leaves their log positions unchanged, with United sixth and Falcon seventh in the nine-team competition.
Falcon’s new captain, their number 8 Cameron Markus, said it was important to his team to show their resolve.
“It was a tough match. The guys put in a lot of work at training in the last week. We were playing for the fans and for our fallen soldiers.
“It’s a shame we didn’t get away with the win, but the performance will inspire us for the match next Saturday at Swakopmund (against Simonis Storm Dolphin) and the rest of the season. We feel that we owe it to our management to at least make the semi-finals.”
Falcon swept to the early lead with tries by flyhalf Casey Beukes and former Namibia U20 scrumhalf Brian Bayer, converted by Beukes and fullback Ashton van Wyk. Their defence also withstood multiple onslaughts from the Philistines, who were unlucky at least once as the final pass was ruled forward when flank Thehard Lintvelt sprinted over in the left corner.
Flank Feddy Mazila finally got United on the board as the pack drove over a lineout maul, before centre Ricardo Swartz landed the touchline conversion.
Halfway through the second half, United flyhalf Hanreco van Zyl displayed his attacking prowess, collecting a short kick ahead and sprinting away for an equalising try when Swartz converted.
Still struggling to get fully into top gear, coach Robbie Dickson’s home side took the lead when, after phase build-up, replacement centre Reinold Benade offloaded for right wing Kauee Kuhanga to cut inside and score, for Swartz to convert.
Falcon’s final try was likely the best of the match, with a counter-attacking run by wing Enrique Husselmann bringing them within striking distance. United briefly won a turnover before Falcon recovered possession and although slow to get into proper attacking shape, they sent the ball to wing Daniel Bezuidenhout who sped away on the left touchline and when checked, threw a one-handed pass inside for scrumhalf Brian Bayer to race to the posts. Husselmann added the conversion.
• In the 2023 season, United drew 40-40 at Falcon, before dominating the return match in Olympia 45-19.
• Fixtures, results, log standings and news at www.fnbrugby.my.na/