U18 boys win one out of three

Schools rugby
Andrew Poolman
  • 6 Days Ago 01 July 2024
An epic battle between Namibia and Zimbabwe on their last match day at the SA Rugby U18 Academy Week at Jeppe Boys High in Johannesburg, finished at 31-28 in favour of Zimbabwe on Friday morning.

Accurate place-kicking by fly-half Waldré Kotze (Windhoek Gymnasium) kep Namibia in the hunt following the unfortunate red card to Moria flank Benjamin Mostert, who was adjudged to have made contact with his boot on an opponent's face after just 26 minutes.

An opportunist try by flank Pieter Jan Strydom (WHS), pouncing on a line-out ball deflected into Zimbabwe’s in-goal area, and Kotze's third penalty nevertheless put Namibia in front 14-12 at halftime.

Namibia added tries by prop Juric van der Berg (Tsumeb Gym) and hooker Marnus Bothma (Elnatan), both converted by Kotze, and twice overtook Zimbabwe's leads, but eventually fell just short.

Their never-say-die attitude despite being one player short produced a tense match throughout, with Zimbabwe celebrating one of their sparse successes against their neighbours at SA provincial schools rugby tournaments.

Namibia U18 won their opening match in the tournament against the Pumas Academy (30-17; halftime 7-17) before losing to the Limpopo Blue Bulls (22-28).

Centres Jano Erasmus (Edugate Academy) and Janco Bredenhann (Whk Gym), fullback William Beukes (WHS), number 8 and captain Ruan Agenbag (Whk Gym) and loosehead prop Van der Berg were among a number of consistent performers for Namibia during the week’s three matches, while Kotze was named player of the match against the Pumas Academy.