• Rugby

Steenbokkies back-to-back titles enhance their legend

• 3 Days Ago 16 September 2024

Unam Steenbokkies secured their second consecutive title in the Namibia Rugby Union Women's Fifteens league with an emphatic 43-7 victory over Wanderers Bokkies in the final on Saturday.

The reigning champions dominated from start to finish, showcasing their superior strength and skill throughout.

Ivone Kooper, the standout player of the tournament, played a pivotal role in their triumph and was named player of the match – scoring four tries and also enforcing a penalty try.

She had already made headlines in the semi-final by scoring four tries against Rehoboth Bokkies and continued her form in the final.

Blessed with the speed and agility of a Steenbokkie, Kooper was a well-known threat, having scored five tries in the 2023 final (beating United Gemsbokkies 47-3). In 2022, Wanderers beat Unam 29-0 in the decider.

The favourites were already in control by the time they were awarded a penalty try after Wanderers captain Mandie van Staden put in a high tackle on Kooper after she had crossed the in-goal area. Van Staden was also sent to the sin bin.

By halftime, the score stood at 17-0, leaving Wanderers with a mountain to climb.

The Steenbokkies continued to dominate in the second half, with Kooper adding two more tries, showing her dangerous attacking ability whether at scrumhalf or anywhere else she was put in possession – whether slipping through non-existent gaps, or adding her fourth by an interception on the halfway line.

Speaking after the game, Koopman expressed her joy: “We worked really hard to get here and I'm glad we got it over the line. I'm happy I could push my teammates. The forwards were great and we’re thrilled with the win.”

Fiola Vliete (wing, one conversion) and Michelle Slinger (fly-half, one penalty, three conversions) also contributed points to the Unam cause.

Wanderers’ only try was scored by Gabriella Jahs, converted by centre partner Ida Visagie.

Reserve trophy won by Kudus

The NRU reserve league, contested by the premier league clubs’ second teams, belongs to FNB Kudus after an emphatic 46-27 win against 2022 title holders Wanderers II.

Kudus showed early resolve racing to a 21-0 lead before their opponents got a word in, and led 28-10 at half-time.

For Kudus, full-back Aston Mukwiilongo was outstanding with three tries. Other team-mates who scored tries were nr 8 Ja-Tamson van der Berg, scrum-half Rayshawn Shoombe and centre Paolo Andrews, while fly-half Michael Koopman was on song with two penalties and five conversions.

Wanderers seldom found rhythm and did not have much luck on the day, but fought valiantly to put tries by lock Phillimon Ndhikwa, scrum-half Louis Karsten, centre Jonathan Hanekom and flank Nikolai Januarie on the board. Only one of Geraldo Beukes’ conversions sailed through.