Whk Gym Lions keep Tsumeb scoreless
Rugby
In a somewhat unexpectedly dominant performance, King Price Curro Windhoek Gymnasium triumphed 36-0 over Compack Tsumeb Gymnasium in the only Standard Bank U19 premier league match played on Saturday. Right from the kickoff at the Lion's Den, the hosts stamped their authority as they headed into a 14-0 halftime lead.
Tries by fullback Janré van Zyl (two), centre JD Jankowitz, scrumhalf Janco Bredenhann, lock Buhlem Oelofsen, and hooker Jayvin du Plessis went unanswered.
The Lions’ flyhalf Waldre Kotze landed one conversion, but left the field after sustaining a bleeding cut on the eyelid while tackling Tsumeb fullback JP Strauss. Bredenhann took over the kicking, adding two more conversions.
Tsumeb Gymnasium seven days earlier almost beat Autohaus Windhoek Affies at Affies Park (23-24). Despite creating several scoring opportunities, they found themselves neutralised by the Lions’ disciplined defence, executing proper tackles and maintaining a solid formation throughout.
Nr 8 Ruan Agenbag, captain of the Lions, highlighted the team’s hard work and dedication in training.
“Today’s game went well for us, I am extremely proud of the boys. We have been working hard in training and it paid off well for us today.”
Looking ahead, he emphasized the team's anticipation for their next encounter with Autohaus Windhoek Affies.
Meanwhile, Tsumeb Gymnasium's captain, the lock Woutie Niehaus, acknowledged the challenge posed by the formidable Lions side.
“Not the result we expected, but we came up against a very good side. We made quite a few errors in both halves and they made us paid for that,” Woutie commented.
Despite the setback, he remained optimistic of the team’s commitment to regroup and improve moving forward.
Tsumeb coach Wouter Niehaus commended his team's efforts despite the result, emphasizing the valuable lessons learned from facing a strong opponent.
“I firstly want to thank Windhoek Gymnasium for today's match. It was a good lesson for the boys.” He said the team emerged without notable injuries and emphasized the importance of using this experience as a building block for future success.