Intriguing semi-finals await

The return of key players from injury will be a major boost to the remaining contenders as the Standard Bank under-19 Super League semi-final weekend brings the school rugby season towards a highly anticipated climax.The Windhoek Gymnasium Lions (sponsored by Schoemans Group) have been the front-runners who have remained unbeaten throughout their six league matches.However, the point differences in some of their victories over OK Foods Moria (29-24 on the opening weekend at Outjo), Samsung Windhoek High School (22-15) and last weekend’s survival of a strong comeback by PSG Walvis Bay Private High School (31-24), would indicate that Gymnasium could hardly afford any degree of complacency.Gymnasium will take on Moria in the first U19 Super League semi-final at Hage Geingob Stadium today, before second-placed KMC One Construction Windhoek Affies (defending title holders from 2018 and 2019) will contest tomorrow’s main match.Gymnasium’s announced team list sees the return of their giant tight head prop Herman Coetzee into the starting fifteen. Coetzee, who this year captained Namibia at the SA U18 Academy Week, has been hugely influential as a force in the scrums and especially the line-out maul, which has been a major source of the team’s tries this season.The big guy suffered an ankle injury against WHS at Vegkop Stadium on 27 August and although the Gymnasium pack was still solid without him against the heavy Walvis Bay eight last weekend, Coetzee will be a welcome addition.Boost for the teamFor Windhoek Affies, the recent return of their play-making centre and captain Theunis van Wyk from an appendix operation, will also be a timely boost.Affies will contest for a place in the final against WHS, after an appeals committee on Tuesday ruled in WHS’s favour regarding a complaint that they should be docked points for three matches in which they had used an over-aged player who turns 20 in December.However, WHS had applied and been given written permission by the relevant authority – the Namibia Secondary Schools Rugby (NSSR) board.Windhoek Affies won their league match at home against WHS on 3 September by 32-19.THE AVAILABLE TEAM LISTSWINDHOEK GYMNASIUM first team: 15 Divan Steyn, 14 Suramie Qhena-Kambombo, 13 William Klazen, 12 Stefan Gildenhuys, 11 Lu-Hendro de Waal, 10 JW Visagie, 9 Elzandro van Wyk, 8 Janneman Brand (captain), 7 Jorick Muir, 6 Dirk Theunissen, 5 Zander le Roux, 4 Handré Visser, 3 Herman Coetzee, 2 Hendré Schrader, 1 Otja Auala. Replacements: Kyle van Wyk, Herman Gouws, Roché Brand, Zack von Wielligh, Denver Beukes , Waldré Kotze, Rewaldo Diergaardt, Ruan Agenbag.MORIA first team: 15 Tolley Tjipute, 14 Miles Tsanichab, 13 Janco Burger, 12 Jano Erasmus, 11 Israel Kandundu, 10 Christof Steenkamp, 9 Coenraad van Zyl, 8 André Brand, 7 Kevin Germishuys, 6 Pieter-Willem Esterhuizen (captain), 5 Marthinus Uaisako, 4 Innocent Kakumai, 3 Shane Montgomery, 2 Luka Kruger, 1 Armand Human. Replacements: Sean Botha, Jean Cronjé, Henrico Louw, MC Gabrielson, Solly Joseph, Markus Mouton, Johan Jordaan, Bertus Narib.SAMSUNG WHS I first team: 15 Henry Rispel, 14 Jurgen Meyer, 13 Armand Kotze, 12 Davito van Wyk, 11 Aleandro Morkel, 10 Caeden Moller, 9 Jayden Cloete, 8 Joe Losper (captain), 7 Ray-Eez Feris, 6 Luca Cindano, 5 Kyle Beukes, 4 Stephan Block, 3 Joshua Bester, 2 Marchal Klein, 1 Jayden van ZylReplacements: Melvin Alcock, Ferion Beukes, Tiaan Hein, Henry Otto, Kyle Nel, Gerson Hisono, Jaco Basson, Henrick van Schalkwyk.WHK AFFIES first team: 1 Gianluca Savoldelli, 2 Delano van den Berg, 3 Johan Mouton, 4 Walther Otto, 5 Ben Burger, 6 SG Maritz, 7 Winslow Olivier (captain), 8 Heinrich Geldenhuys, 9 Liam van Rooyen, 10 Van der Merwe Tromp, 11 Nico Tromp, 12 Theunis van Wyk, 13 Jonathan Hanekom, 14 Jandre Esterhuizen, 15 Andre Siepker. Replacements: Lian Vlok, Rudi Liebenberg, Willem Wessels, Jandre Brandt, Giann Smith, Ruan Janse van Rensburg, Nico van Staden, JP Rix.&bull; The schedule for the Standard Bank League semi-finals at Hage Geingob Stadium:TODAY, 16 SeptemberU19D, Dawid Bezuidenhout I v HTS II, 13:30U14A, WAP U14 v Windhoek Gymnasium A, 14:50U14A, Dr. Lemmer v WHS A, 15:50U15B, Grootfontein SS v M&K Gertze, 16:50U15A, Dr. Lemmer v Windhoek Gymnasium, 17:50U19C, Grootfontein SS I v HTS I, 18:50U19 Super League: Windhoek Gymnasium I v Moria I, 20:10SATURDAY 17 SeptemberU19D, M&K Gertze II v Rehoboth I, 08:00U15B, Okahandja Schools v Pro-Ed Academy, 09:20U19C, Grootfontein Rugby I v KPS I, 10:20U19B, SSS I v Windhoek Gymnasium II, 11:40U19B, Dolphin Schools I v WHS II, 13:00U15A, Walvis Bay v WHS A, 14:20U19A, PSG Pro-Ed I v Dr Lemmer I, 15:20U19 Super League, Windhoek Affies I v WHS I, 16:40

Intriguing semi-finals await

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