Wanderers take lead in premier league
Premier league
Narrow margins were the order of the day on a windy day in Walvis Bay.
FNB Wanderers’ first team took a big step towards remaining the only unbeaten team in the Namibia Rugby Union premier league while also regaining the outright lead in the log standings on Saturday.
Rivals FNB Kudus, who before the match had been tied on 38 log points each, suffered a narrow 17-15 loss to Wanderers at the Jan Wilken Stadium, with difficult windy conditions contributing to a slower match tempo than this top-of-the-log clash should have delivered.
Wanderers established a 3-0 lead in the 5th minute with Eugene Jantjies succeeding with his second attempt at reading the tricky wind.
Kudus launched a concerted effort of phases that led to left wing Ronaldo Diergaardt diving over in the corner, converted by full-back Geraldo Beukes, to take a 7-3 lead before the halftime whistle.
During the second half, Wanderers came back firing, but Jantjies missed an ambitious penalty from the left touchline. The visitors did take the lead in the 56th minute when DJ Holtzhausen scored their first try after being sent away by his younger brother and centre partner Niel Holtzhausen, who broke through from a lineout. Jantjies converted (10-7).
Backed by a vibrant crowd, Kudus continued applying pressure and managed to level the score 10-10 in the 60th minute with a Beukes penalty. The home side then took the lead with lock Tersius Arangies scoring an unconverted try with help from a drive by the forwards.
Wanderers’ winning try came after 74 minutes from a lineout on the Kudus goalline, as lock Johan Meyer gathered a bouncing ball to crash over. Jantjies landed the decisive conversion for the two-point win.
Afterwards, Wanderers’ team captain Darius von Solms said it was a difficult game. “I should really give it to Kudus, they put on quite a show, just as we expected. I’m glad that we could take the win today. Hopefully we’ll meet them again in the finals.”
Reserve League
FNB Kudus 2 defeated FNB Wanderers 2 by 13-3 in the Reserve league.
Right wing Franklin Busch and centre Vernon McKay each scored one try for Kudus. Busch also added a penalty goal.
Wanderers’ fly-half Ethan Koopman kicked one penalty goal.
Following the result, the leading teams in the league after ten matches each are Kudus (40), Wanderers (36), Grootfontein (28) and United (26), with Rehoboth and Reho Falcon on 25 each.
First Division
Sparta Rugby Club II defeated Kudus III by 21-12 in a NRU first-division match. Sparta 2 scored two tries against Kudus’ two.
Sparta right wing Keano Daniels and right prop Radahwaan Mouton each scored one try. Full-back Ronaldo Britzze scored one conversion and three penalty goals.
Kudus’ try scorers were full-back Algirnon Kolz and Bevin Kotzee. Ulriato Lawrence converted once.
Women’s League
Wanderers defeated Kudus Bokkies 26-0 in a NRU women’s league match. Wanderers scored four tries, round off by right-wing Lizzle Tauxas, scrum-half Daniella Beukes, flank Memory Tjivikua and replacement lock Astrid van Lill. Fly-half Yanneke Lawrence landed three conversions.
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Rivals FNB Kudus, who before the match had been tied on 38 log points each, suffered a narrow 17-15 loss to Wanderers at the Jan Wilken Stadium, with difficult windy conditions contributing to a slower match tempo than this top-of-the-log clash should have delivered.
Wanderers established a 3-0 lead in the 5th minute with Eugene Jantjies succeeding with his second attempt at reading the tricky wind.
Kudus launched a concerted effort of phases that led to left wing Ronaldo Diergaardt diving over in the corner, converted by full-back Geraldo Beukes, to take a 7-3 lead before the halftime whistle.
During the second half, Wanderers came back firing, but Jantjies missed an ambitious penalty from the left touchline. The visitors did take the lead in the 56th minute when DJ Holtzhausen scored their first try after being sent away by his younger brother and centre partner Niel Holtzhausen, who broke through from a lineout. Jantjies converted (10-7).
Backed by a vibrant crowd, Kudus continued applying pressure and managed to level the score 10-10 in the 60th minute with a Beukes penalty. The home side then took the lead with lock Tersius Arangies scoring an unconverted try with help from a drive by the forwards.
Wanderers’ winning try came after 74 minutes from a lineout on the Kudus goalline, as lock Johan Meyer gathered a bouncing ball to crash over. Jantjies landed the decisive conversion for the two-point win.
Afterwards, Wanderers’ team captain Darius von Solms said it was a difficult game. “I should really give it to Kudus, they put on quite a show, just as we expected. I’m glad that we could take the win today. Hopefully we’ll meet them again in the finals.”
Reserve League
FNB Kudus 2 defeated FNB Wanderers 2 by 13-3 in the Reserve league.
Right wing Franklin Busch and centre Vernon McKay each scored one try for Kudus. Busch also added a penalty goal.
Wanderers’ fly-half Ethan Koopman kicked one penalty goal.
Following the result, the leading teams in the league after ten matches each are Kudus (40), Wanderers (36), Grootfontein (28) and United (26), with Rehoboth and Reho Falcon on 25 each.
First Division
Sparta Rugby Club II defeated Kudus III by 21-12 in a NRU first-division match. Sparta 2 scored two tries against Kudus’ two.
Sparta right wing Keano Daniels and right prop Radahwaan Mouton each scored one try. Full-back Ronaldo Britzze scored one conversion and three penalty goals.
Kudus’ try scorers were full-back Algirnon Kolz and Bevin Kotzee. Ulriato Lawrence converted once.
Women’s League
Wanderers defeated Kudus Bokkies 26-0 in a NRU women’s league match. Wanderers scored four tries, round off by right-wing Lizzle Tauxas, scrum-half Daniella Beukes, flank Memory Tjivikua and replacement lock Astrid van Lill. Fly-half Yanneke Lawrence landed three conversions.
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