Quick start helps Rehoboth dominate Unam

FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club moved up one position to third, while FNB Unam remains sixth on the log as a result of the only match played in the Namibia Rugby Union’s premier league on Saturday.

Rehoboth won their home match 46-35, scoring six tries to five in a free-flowing game that pushed them past FNB Kudus on the log.

Rehoboth’s try scorers were centre Nando Dentlinger, flyhalf Henrique Olivier, number 8 Edward Drotsky (2), and the locks Keynnen Basson and Jerome Schumann.

Olivier also added two penalties and five conversions for a personal tally of 21 points on the day.

Unam replied with tries by wings Shareave Titus and Damian van der Ross and number 8 Berry Gande, while the replacement leftwing Paulus Hangula scored twice after being sent on. Aljarreau Zaahl at fullback succeeded with each of his five conversion attempts.

Comfort zone

By half-time the Red Bulls were already in full control at 31-7, and although the students launched a commendable fightback in the second half, Rehoboth coach Gerald Loubser reckons his side should have won by a much bigger scoreline, "like 46-7, or even more".

"We have a really mobile pack of forwards – in the first half, we saw some of our forwards breaking through and even out-sprinting the Unam wings. I would pick our locks, Keynnen Basson and Jerome Schumann, as two of our standout performers.

"Unfortunately, we settled into a comfort zone in the second half and allowed them back into the game.

"Even our previous match against FNB Reho Falcon went the same way, with a dominating first half followed by a much poorer second-half effort. We lost some composure and should have closed out the game better."

Rehoboth played without forwards Dilhin Daries and Chester Diergaardt for ten minutes each, with the former receiving a yellow card for a ruck infringement.

Diergaardt was sent to the bin for retaliating against an act of foul play by Unam’s Cameron Klassen that earned the scrumhalf a straight red card.

Unam also sacrificed both their props, Simon Kanime and captain Graham April, to yellow cards.

The Unam view

Unam’s coach Russel van Rooi says: “Unam started pretty well in the first 15 minutes, but after Rehoboth scored their second try we simply disappeared.

“Henrique punished us with his left-footed kicking. Unam were trailing 46-7 at one stage, but we showed character during the last 17 minutes with just 14 players on the field to bring the final result to 46-35

“Graham April got a yellow card in the first minute for a tackle on Henrique. Simon was shown a card for not retreating 10 metres, but when Rehoboth did the same there was no card shown. There was no consistency from the referee, including at the scrums.

“Cameron took a quick-tap penalty and got red-carded for grabbing an opponent around the neck, which doen’s make sense while he was the ball carrier. The call came from the touch judge Zaid Isaacs.

“Our best performers on the day was hooker Jayden Jeffery and Paulus Hangula as an impact player on the wing.”

• Rehoboth’s second team won the NRU reserve league match against Unam II by 30-25, while log-leading Unam Steenbokkies won the women’s league match 36-0, with Ivonne Kooper scoring three tries.