Third log leaders in NRU league

Trustco United took over as the log leader following match week three of the Namibia Rugby Union’s (NRU) premier league on Saturday, with an imposing 46-31 win over FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club.

After FNB Unam had taken the initial lead on points difference after weekend one, the student team were overtaken by FNB Wanderers who beat them on weekend two.

United (seven tries) and Rehoboth (five) accounted for 12 tries in Saturday’s clash at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek. This included a penalty try awarded to Rehoboth during the final seconds.

Despite the final score line being somewhat flattering to United, this win did not come at all easy to the Philistines.

Shortly before half-time, United held a 24-5 lead, but Rehoboth came back strongly with a second try to make the half-time score 24-10.

Goal-kicking did not go to plan for the Red Bulls, though, as scrum half Miquel Busch could only land two conversions for the day.

The second half was much more closely contested, with United adding 22 points and Rehoboth 21.

United captain Eloff du Plessis was in outstanding form, scoring four tries, including a solo run from 60 metres out. Du Plessis and centre Christo Gresse each spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for yellow cards.

Wing Edgar Beuthin, eighthman Dean Blom and lock Zander Bronkhorst also went over for one try each, while Renier Benade (full back) succeeded with four conversions and a penalty.

Rehoboth’s try-scorers were full back Jeandré Loubser, right wing Elmarco Beukes, centre Henrique Olivier and fly half Xavier van Wyk, along with a penalty try.

Kudus hold Wanderers

Despite trailing throughout the match, FNB Kudus got away with a determined 19-19 draw from their visit at Wanderers.

Warren Ludwig, at full back for Wanderers with Denzyl Bruwer nursing a hamstring, combined with centre Niel Holtzhausen to work right wing Nandivatu Karuuombe over for the first long-range try after 20 minutes, which DJ Holtzhausen converted.

However, the difference remained seven points at half-time with just one penalty each added by Holtzhausen and his Kudus counterpart Geraldo Beukes.

Further penalties were exchanged between the two with Wanderers building up a 19-9 lead, before Kudus finally broke through from a lineout drive to add hooker Jarren Koning’s converted try.

Another Beukes penalty from the 10-metre line tied the scores at 19-19 and although Holtzhausen had one more chance to win the match, his kick sailed wide.

The result cost each of the teams one log position, with Wanderers (13) and Kudus (nine) now second and fourth respectively.

Suburbs land a blow

FNB Unam suffered their second loss in two weeks when FNB Western Suburbs claimed a 22-20 win in Khomasdal.

Tries by returning right wing Dumarcho Hartung, centre Jayden Links and scrumhalf AJ Kearns, along with two conversions and a penalty by full back Ricardo Swartz, were enough to hand the green-and-white team a narrow win.

Unam had to settle for one losing bonus point, having scored tries by Shareave Titus (wing) and flank Roaldo Rittmann, off the bench. Fly half Aljarreau Zaahl kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Unam is now in fifth place (seven), while Suburbs (10) is third on the log.

Falcon's first win

FNB Grootfontein scored five tries, but still lost their away match to FNB Reho Falcon 35-29.

Lock Etienne Koopman, flank Izador Jansen, fly half Brandon Dentlinger and wing Shaun Mouton were try-scorers for the winners, with Dentlinger adding the rest from the kicking tee.

Grootfontein’s try-scorers were wing Nolan Mostert, centre Guilermo Jahs, lock Rheinhardt Carelse (two) and flank Oliver Mouton. Only one conversion by fly half Sergio Dinniz hit the spot.

Grootfontein is now bottom of the log (eighth, three points), one spot below Falcon (five).