Fighting Unam retain title

In a fiercely contested match between Unam and Wanderers, it was the university boys that came out shining when they beat Wanderers 44-36 to claim the title for the second time.
The two teams, who also met last year in the Namibia Rugby Premier league final, again met this year to battle it out but it emerged that Unam are the current giants of the rugby premier league.
In a well-attended final played at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday evening, it was Wanderers who took the lead less than 10 minutes into the game through a try to tally 7-0 on the board.
The speedy squad of Unam however came out minutes later through a brilliant run by Unam to equalise the score.
It took the Unam boys minutes to add to their score when they scored a second try but missed the conversion.
After Unam took the lead with 12- 7, Wanderers scored again to spoil it for Unam as they took the lead with a margin of two.
The Unam side wasted no chance they got, as they came out again to add to their score when they caught their opponents napping. Unam scored a try and a conversion to make it 19-14.
Despite Wanderers having scored another try, they missed the conversion and a penalty by Unam awarded them again three points to make it 22-19.
In the countdown to halftime, Unam added three more points. Wanderers almost spoiled it for the defending champions as he scored a try but his teammate missed the try. Leaving the score line at halftime 25-24.
The battle continued right after halftime as Unam started going for points through penalties and fewer tries, while Wanderers aimed for more.
Although Wanderers scored more tries after halftime than Unam, it was not enough to award them the victory as Unam stole the show from them and finished it for them.
Wanderers’ try would award them more points but his teammate missed the conversion and the final score was 44- 36 in favour of Unam.
Speaking to the media right after being crowned champions, Unam’s coach Johan Diergaardt said his young players always respond well to deliver good results.
“It is amazing and a privilege working with these youngsters and every time they just come through working hard so I feel blessed by just working with them,” he said, adding that the team worked hard the past week specifically on the runners and that his players’ speed was perfect.
Diergaardt said he has a good management team and all that they do is to work and see results and see that the players at the end get the blessings.
“I think Unam can for a few years dominate rugby especially that we play with very young players so if we can keep them together and work together and work on their conditioning and improve them they can become great,” he said.
UNAM scorers:
Tries by Lorenzo Louis, Unomasa Kavita (2) and Jerome Beukes. Lorenzo Louis added five penalties and three conversions while Helarius Kisting scored a drop goal.


Wanderers scorers
Tries by Schalk Bergh, Riaan van Zyl (2), Heico Prinsloo, Stef Botha, Enem Kritzinger. Heico Prinsloo added three conversions.
KAINO NGHITONGO