• Rugby

Unam v Wanderers will provide season climax

• 2 Weeks Ago 02 September 2024

FNB Unam and FNB Wanderers fended off the determined challenge of their respective semi-final opponents on Saturday to take their place in the NRU premier league final to be played on Saturday 14 September.

Unam and Wanderers had been setting the pace at the top of the log all season and as such, proved their worth as deserving finalists.

At WHS Vegkop Stadium on Saturday, Wanderers were behind by two points at halftime (15-17) of their semi-final against a highly determined and well-supported FNB Kudus side.

Coach Dirk Human’s side, captained by scrumhalf Jacques Theron, had to turn on the style on their way to a 49-24 win to bury the plucky Walvis Bay team, that finished the regular season in third position.

Denzo Bruwer, at fly-half, overcame a few costly errors that allowed Kudus’ first-half resurgence, as he finished the match with 24 points, which included a well-taken try. Three penalties and five conversions were also part of his contribution, as the White Stallions silenced the travelling Blue Army faithful.

Wanderers wings Nandivatu Karuuombe and Jurgen Meyer showed their try-scoring prowess in the first half, but Kudus struck back in equal measure through prop Hillary Mphatso and centre Suramie Kambombo, whose individual break to dive over between the posts a highlight of the youngster’s challenging day against his direct opponent Johan Deysel.

Karuuombe’s break through the middle for his try, followed by an intercepti try by Deysel, one of the best centres Namibia has produced, swung the momentum from 15-17 to 29-17 quickly after halftime.

Another moment of magic came from Wanderers replacement wing Natie van Rensburg, who collected a touch-kick and beat about seven defenders before off-loading for flank Darius von Solms’ five-pointer under the posts (36-17).

Bruwer also added another try, as Kudus’ success at a line-out maul for a Criag Swartz try proved too little and too late.



Unam calm and collected

In the University of Namibia’s win by 27-15 under captain Alcino Izaacs , they could have been pressed harder by FNB Grootfontein, whose loss of discipline at vital stages unravelled their challenge in their first-ever NRU premier league semi-final appearance.

Three yellow cards for cynical offence (hands in a ruck) and a team warning sent centre Jahzeél Marais (13 minutes) and flank Martinus Nekundi (tip tackle on Unam wing Shareave Titus after 22 minutes) to the sin-bin, before the final move of the first half saw a strong attacking Unam scrum force a penalty try, which left referee Nicardo Pienaar no option but another yellow card to replacement prop Amutenya Amutenya.

By the time Grootfontein were finally restored to fifteen players again with barely 30 minutes left to play, they already found themselves behind 3-24.

Grootfontein briefly showed what they are capable of and why they secured a semi-final ahead of defending champions trustco United and FNB Reho Falcon – achieving the rare feat of winning a second half against Unam (12 points to three).

However, the final nail in Grootfontein’s coffin was the red card to flank Pieter Daan Kok, sent off for a blatant head-butt on Raschano van Rooi as they laid on the floor, right in front of the referee.

Amid all the indiscretions by Grootfontein, Unam kept their cool, accumulating points through a try by right wing speedster Shareave Titus (22 minutes), hooker Gerhard Thirion (25 minutes) and the penalty try, along with two penalties and two conversions by full-back AJ Zaahl.



Reserve league

The second teams of Wanderers and Kudus will meet in the reserve league final.

Wanderers II looked impressive in a display of accuracy, scoring seven tries on their way to a 54-20 win against Unam II.

Kudus II, who finished top of the log, racked up five tries while beating Rehoboth II comfortably (43-19).



Women’s league

The highly impressive Unam Steenbokkies, unbeaten in ten league matches, look ready to defend their title after winning their semi-final against Rehoboth Bokkies 55-17.

Full-back Ivone Kooper scored four of their nine tries, complimented by the five-pointers of wing Fiola Vliete, centres Ellen Garoes (2) and Elzane-Lee Basson, and fly-half Michelle Slinger. Rehoboth, who trailed 5-27 at halftime, competed much better in the second half, but was still out-classed.

The Steenbokkies final opponents will be the Wanderers Bokkies, who delivered a big surprise with a last-gasp comeback to beat favourites United Gemsbokkies 28-24.