Top three achieve wins in NRU premier league
Club rugby
Eighth-placed FNB Rehoboth narrowly beat number four FNB Grootfontein.
In the final stretch of the 2024 NRU premier league season, under-pressure title holders Trustco United’s aims of fighting their way back into the top four got a setback on Saturday.
FNB Kudus took the winning points back to Walvis Bay when they clinched a 20-15 result at Gemsbok Park, overturning the 7-12 deficit at halftime of a closely-contested match.
Kudus consolidated their third position on the log, with FNB Reho Falcon (fifth) on their bye weekend also receiving an unexpected boost when the main challengers on either side of them – Grootfontein (fourth) and United (sixth) – suffered losses, while Falcon has played two matches less than Grootfontein.
It took 23 minutes after the kick-off for United to break the deadlock against Kudus, when phase play enabled PJ Ilonga to offload for centre Jandre Esterhuyzen to cut through at full speed for a try converted by scrumhalf Hanreco van Zyl.
Kudus’ opening statement came just three minutes later, with carries by flank Kenneth Seibeb and lock Enzio Kotzee opening the door for Diago Julies to sent his centre partner Suramie Kambombo through. With Kyle Wentzel’s kick the scores were level at 7-7.
A wide Kudus attack after 33 minutes sent right wing Irongwa Atshivudhi away to run in at the posts, but Kudus were called back for a foot in touch. Atshivudhi would again be unlucky in the 47th minute when an apparent second try attempt was disallowed.
United’s 12-7 lead at halftime came through a try by prop Johan Brockman, who forced his way over in the left-hand corner.
Kudus responded first in the second half, running away with a rolling maul for nr. 8 Ja-Tamson van den Bergh’s try, which remained unconverted when Wentzel’s kick bounced off the upright (12-12).
Penalties by Van Zyl and Wentzel moved the score along to 15-15, before Kudus lock Tertius Arangies five-pointer from a pick-and-go turned out to be the winning points.
United’s Philistines were disappointed off the final move, when late pressure resulted in a line-out on Kudus’ goal-line, with lock Zander Bronkhorst pouncing to dot down from an apparent kick charge-down. However, referee Danie Koen’s consultation with the touch judge led to the decision of a United knock-on and no try.
Afterwards, captain Enzio Kotzee was proud of his Kudus team winning a physical encounter, achieved without a number of absent game-breakers including Justin Newman, PJ Walters, Lloyd Jacobs, Cameron Langenhoven and the Plato brothers.
Kotzee admitted that they had to improve their discipline, after twice being sent back ten metres for backchat when penalties were awarded. “We reckoned our fitness level were above theirs and I think I made a difference.”
• Watch United v Kudus full match, https://q.my.na/9ILK
Run-away win for Unam
Unam dished out a 57-0 domination against Simonis Storm Dolphin, overseen by referee Anthonie de Greeff (halftime 19-0).
Centre Camlo Martin, coming off the bench, scored the last three tries along with tries by wings Johannes Mwenyo (2) and Owen Hawanga, centre Kieron Diergaardt, nr 8 Rowan Jansen and hooker Gerhard Thirion. Six conversions by fullback Aljarreau Zaahl extended the difference by 12 points.
It was log leaders Unam’s tenth win from 12 matches, achieved without about 12 regular first-team contenders, while Dolphin has only one win against Rehoboth to show so far.
Dolphins’ biggest defeat this season was 5-89 against Wanderers in match seven in May.
Setback for Grootfontein
Travelling FNB Grootfontein ran into a determined FNB Rehoboth who this season have failed to live up to their potential.
Eight-placed Rehoboth survived by the faintest margin (20-19) for only their third win from ten. Scrumhalf Miquel Busch was a hero off the bench, contributing a try, converson and two penalties, along woth left wing Kee-shan Beukes’ try and cenre Henrique Olivier’s conversion.
Grootfontein’s try scorers were centres Ian Malan and Jahzeél Marais and lock Jan Breedt, with one conversion each by AJ Vercuil and Uroél Marais.
Home win for Wanderers
A comeback from 7-27 in the second half by FNB Western Suburbs was ultimately not enough to prevent the depleted FNB Wanderers winning 34-26.
Tries for the winners were scored by speedy full-back Jurgen Meyer, centre Jonathan Hanekom (2), flank Kyle Nel, lock Johan Meyer and prop Iyambo Tshuuya. Two conversions by fly-half Geraldo Beukes hit the spot.
Suburbs took a four-try bonus point, ensured by Darryl Vries (centre), Rudi Pretorius (fly-half) and replacements Elmarco Beukes and Shaun Mouers. Pretorius added three conversions.
Yellow card were shown to Wanderers lock Sheron Rossouw and Suburbs prop Howard Gawachab.
NRU Reserve League
Saturday’s results:Unam second team 48-13 Dolphin II; Rehoboth II 25-24 Grootfontein II; Wanderers II 29-17 Suburbs.
FNB Kudus took the winning points back to Walvis Bay when they clinched a 20-15 result at Gemsbok Park, overturning the 7-12 deficit at halftime of a closely-contested match.
Kudus consolidated their third position on the log, with FNB Reho Falcon (fifth) on their bye weekend also receiving an unexpected boost when the main challengers on either side of them – Grootfontein (fourth) and United (sixth) – suffered losses, while Falcon has played two matches less than Grootfontein.
It took 23 minutes after the kick-off for United to break the deadlock against Kudus, when phase play enabled PJ Ilonga to offload for centre Jandre Esterhuyzen to cut through at full speed for a try converted by scrumhalf Hanreco van Zyl.
Kudus’ opening statement came just three minutes later, with carries by flank Kenneth Seibeb and lock Enzio Kotzee opening the door for Diago Julies to sent his centre partner Suramie Kambombo through. With Kyle Wentzel’s kick the scores were level at 7-7.
A wide Kudus attack after 33 minutes sent right wing Irongwa Atshivudhi away to run in at the posts, but Kudus were called back for a foot in touch. Atshivudhi would again be unlucky in the 47th minute when an apparent second try attempt was disallowed.
United’s 12-7 lead at halftime came through a try by prop Johan Brockman, who forced his way over in the left-hand corner.
Kudus responded first in the second half, running away with a rolling maul for nr. 8 Ja-Tamson van den Bergh’s try, which remained unconverted when Wentzel’s kick bounced off the upright (12-12).
Penalties by Van Zyl and Wentzel moved the score along to 15-15, before Kudus lock Tertius Arangies five-pointer from a pick-and-go turned out to be the winning points.
United’s Philistines were disappointed off the final move, when late pressure resulted in a line-out on Kudus’ goal-line, with lock Zander Bronkhorst pouncing to dot down from an apparent kick charge-down. However, referee Danie Koen’s consultation with the touch judge led to the decision of a United knock-on and no try.
Afterwards, captain Enzio Kotzee was proud of his Kudus team winning a physical encounter, achieved without a number of absent game-breakers including Justin Newman, PJ Walters, Lloyd Jacobs, Cameron Langenhoven and the Plato brothers.
Kotzee admitted that they had to improve their discipline, after twice being sent back ten metres for backchat when penalties were awarded. “We reckoned our fitness level were above theirs and I think I made a difference.”
• Watch United v Kudus full match, https://q.my.na/9ILK
Run-away win for Unam
Unam dished out a 57-0 domination against Simonis Storm Dolphin, overseen by referee Anthonie de Greeff (halftime 19-0).
Centre Camlo Martin, coming off the bench, scored the last three tries along with tries by wings Johannes Mwenyo (2) and Owen Hawanga, centre Kieron Diergaardt, nr 8 Rowan Jansen and hooker Gerhard Thirion. Six conversions by fullback Aljarreau Zaahl extended the difference by 12 points.
It was log leaders Unam’s tenth win from 12 matches, achieved without about 12 regular first-team contenders, while Dolphin has only one win against Rehoboth to show so far.
Dolphins’ biggest defeat this season was 5-89 against Wanderers in match seven in May.
Setback for Grootfontein
Travelling FNB Grootfontein ran into a determined FNB Rehoboth who this season have failed to live up to their potential.
Eight-placed Rehoboth survived by the faintest margin (20-19) for only their third win from ten. Scrumhalf Miquel Busch was a hero off the bench, contributing a try, converson and two penalties, along woth left wing Kee-shan Beukes’ try and cenre Henrique Olivier’s conversion.
Grootfontein’s try scorers were centres Ian Malan and Jahzeél Marais and lock Jan Breedt, with one conversion each by AJ Vercuil and Uroél Marais.
Home win for Wanderers
A comeback from 7-27 in the second half by FNB Western Suburbs was ultimately not enough to prevent the depleted FNB Wanderers winning 34-26.
Tries for the winners were scored by speedy full-back Jurgen Meyer, centre Jonathan Hanekom (2), flank Kyle Nel, lock Johan Meyer and prop Iyambo Tshuuya. Two conversions by fly-half Geraldo Beukes hit the spot.
Suburbs took a four-try bonus point, ensured by Darryl Vries (centre), Rudi Pretorius (fly-half) and replacements Elmarco Beukes and Shaun Mouers. Pretorius added three conversions.
Yellow card were shown to Wanderers lock Sheron Rossouw and Suburbs prop Howard Gawachab.
NRU Reserve League
Saturday’s results:Unam second team 48-13 Dolphin II; Rehoboth II 25-24 Grootfontein II; Wanderers II 29-17 Suburbs.
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