Kudus hold United down to third loss in a row
Club rugby
FNB Unam became the third different log leaders after three rounds of this season's league.
The remarkably slow start for defending champions Trustco United in the 2024 Namibia Rugby Union premier league continued in Walvis Bay on Saturday, as they dropped to their third defeat after three matches.FNB Kudus ran out 17-8 winners (halftime 9-3) in a result which did not earn coach Robbie Dickson’s Windhoek side any log points.
For Kudus, one try by number 8 Joshua Jacobs and four penalties by flyhalf Aurelio Plato were enough to seal the deal.
United supporters had to be content with one try by flyhalf Hanreco van Zyl and a penalty by centre Ricardo Swartz. The Philistines had also lost their earlier matches against FNB Grootfontein and FNB Unam.
AT SWAKOPMUND
FNB Unam became the newest log leader (the third different one after the first three rounds) and the latest beneficiary of a big score shipped by Swakopmund’s premier league newcomers Simonis Storm Dolphin.
Unam ran in eight tries on their way to a 46-0 win. Three were scored by right wing Quirione Majiedt, with one each by captain and centre Alcino Izaacs, left wing Shareave Titus, number 8 Handre Bezuidenhout, tighthead prop Graham April and Don-Juan Beukes off the bench. Flyhalf Raschano van Rooi added three conversions.
IN KHOMASDAL
National team captain in the last two World Cups, Johan Deysel, played his first-ever match for a locally-based club after his post-school career took him to the Leopards, the Sharks and five years at French club Colomiers.
On Friday, he was cleared from his five-match ban following the 2023 World Cup in France, to be included on the bench for FNB Wanderers’ away match to FNB Western Suburbs.
After being sent on, Deysel scored twice against the Khomasdal side, as Wanderers racked up a 44-7 win.
Flyhalf Andre van der Berg (captain in the absence of Jacques Theron), wing Nandivatu Karuuombe and centre Natie van Rensburg also added tries, of which Van der Berg kicked four conversions and three penalties.
Suburbs, who seems to be in a rebuilding phase under coach Jacky Bock, managed one try by lock Uvatera Kaverua which flyhalf Nushan Neels converted.
AT GROOTFONTEIN
FNB Grootfontein slipped down one position to second place, but remain unbeaten after three rounds despite a sloppy 16-8 win at home against FNB Rehoboth.
In a match marred by a slow tempo, long interruptions for injuries and multiple reset scrums, Grootfontein held a slight 6-5 lead at halftime thanks to two AJ Vercuil penalties.
Coach Jood Opperman’s Rehoboth, with one win over Dolphin and a bye weekend under their belt, managed a lineout maul try by hooker Jeandre Cloete after 17 minutes.
Grootfontein prop Bernd Beddies, an important member of their dominant scrum on the day, drove over the line for their second try (11-5), before Rehoboth scrumhalf Miquel Busch brought them back within striking range with a penalty.
By far the highlight of the match came off the very last move, as Grootfontein struck with a counter-attack within their own half. Flyhalf Dhaamin Bassardien and fullback Vercuil worked the young left wing Lazarus Joseph into space, where he accelerated past the cover defence for the final unconverted try.
AT REHOBOTH
Namibia Under 20 utilised the off weekend for FNB Reho Falcon to arrange a friendly match at the Dr Lemmer High School field, which the national junior team narrowly won 40-38.
The Namibians were preparing in a final trial match before their departure to the Rugby Africa Barthes Cup tournament in Zimbabwe, where they face matches against Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tunia starting on 20 April.
The Namibian touring squad is expected to be confirmed later this week.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Champions Unam Steenbokkies racked a 77-0 win against Oceans at Swakopmund on Saturday. Fiola Vliete (fullback) and number 8 Mandy Hansen each scored three of Unam’s 13 tries as they extended their lead.
At Grootfontein, the home team had few answers as Pione van Rooyen led her Rehoboth Bokkies side to a convincing 57-5 win. Fullback Whitney Daniels and wing Chriscentia Bassingthwaighte each struck twice.