Rehoboth wins, as Unam remains third

FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club piled up 33 points in the second half in Olympia on Saturday afternoon in their NRU premier league match against Trustco United to win the match by 43-34.

The Philistines were ahead 12-10 at halftime after their outside centre and vice-captain, JD Nel, and then left wing Mbiri Mbai went over the goal line. Flyhalf Chris Arries was able to convert once in the windy conditions.

For the visiting Red Bulls, scrumhalf Miguel Busch landed a penalty in the 20th minute. Rehoboth reduced the deficit to two points in the 31st minute when lock Francois Visagie dived over for a great solo try and Busch kicked the additional two points.

Rehoboth, as often in the past, only found their overdrive during the second half and added five tries which were all successfully converted by substitute flyhalf Geraldo Beukes. Beukes went up in the first half in place of Ascher Coetzee, who suffered a suspected concussion.

Rehoboth struck early and hard in the second half, adding tries after 45, 47, 56, 59 and 67 minutes, with Beukes’s unerring boot stretching the lead ever further. United attacked furiously themselves and was rewarded with four more tries, but Arries succeeded with only one out of six attempts at goal.

Both teams ended with six tries, but the difference was the accurate aim of Rehoboth’s kickers Busch and Beukes.

Following a yellow card to United lock Vavi Kaura, the hosts had to play with 14 men for ten minutes. However, both teams’ discipline was impeccable with good rugby and sportsmanship.

Scorers:

United, tries by JD Nel (2), Mbiri Mbai, Eloff du Plessis, Thomas Kali (2). Conversion: Arries (1).

Rehoboth, tries by Nando Dentlinger, Jeandré Loubser (2), Francois Visagie (2), Udo Mall. Conversions: Busch, Beukes (4). Penalties: Dilhen Daries (1).

AT GROOTFONTEIN

FNB Western Suburbs and FNB Grootfontein were level at 11 points each before their clash on Saturday, which the visitors from Khomasdal won 20-14.

Andrew Shikoneni (prop) and Morgan Esterhuizen (wing) scored tries for Suburbs. Flyhalf Justin Nel added two conversions and two penalties.

Grootfontein, led by prop Pieter du Plessis in the absence of Wikus Jacobs at the national training camp, could only reply with a penalty try, a try by prop Adriaan Potgieter and a conversion by centre Dehan Reynders.

AT REHOBOTH

Winless Reho Falcon was not expected to trouble FNB Unam too much, despite their home advantage and the student team conceding seven players to national duty.

Unam ran out 28-19 winners and could have scored more than their total of four tries, as they showed some lack of cohesion due to the four-week lay-off since the previous round.

Hooker Jeandre Cloete scored a hattrick for Unam – all of them originating from lineout mauls – along with their fourth try by left wing Shareave Titus. Fullback Aljarreau Zaahl landed four out of four conversin attempts.

Good news for Unam is that flyhalf Delron Brandt, who suffered a leg injury while playing for the Welwitschias against the Blue Bulls two weekends ago, is only expected to be out of contention for another two to three weeks. His place on Saturday was filled by the equally competent Henrique Oivier.

Reho Falcon’s point was a try and conversion by flyhalf Enrique Husselman, as well as four penalties by fullback Franklin Busch. The home side also lost lock Kenneth Seibeb to the sin-bin for ten minutes.