Oranjemund clip Swallows wings
Rugby
Oranjemund Rugby Club powered their way into the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) First League final with a commanding performance in Lüderitz,
Oranjemund Rugby Club secured a spot in the final of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) First League with a convincing 39–10 victory over defending champions Ocean Swallows in Lüderitz on Saturday.
This was Oranjemund's final league fixture ahead of the final scheduled for 21 June in Windhoek. The Diamond Town boys collected 15 points and cannot be overtaken by Swallows, who are on two points, or the Keetmanshoop Rams, who have six. Swallows will take on the Rams in Keetmanshoop on 24 May in the final First Division South fixture. Oranjemund will face the top-placed team from the First Division Central/North, with Vipers (25 points), Etosha Lions (24 points), and Okahandja Highlanders (15 points) all still in contention with three rounds of matches remaining.
Fast-paced start – Captain and inside centre Gino Wilson scored the opening try in the 5th minute. Scrum-half Ronald Solomons missed the conversion (5–0). Henis Shipepo (lock) replied for Ocean Swallows to level the score (5–5), but scrum-half Keanu van Neel failed to convert. Oranjemund’s eightman Keanan Beukes crashed over for their second try, with Wilson again missing the conversion (10–5). Beukes added a third try—his second of the match—but Wilson was again off target. The half-time score remained 10–5.
Second-half dominance – Lock Arnoldus Enslin powered over shortly after the break, with Wilson converting (17–5). Fly-half Heinrich Solomons also crossed the try line for Oranjemund, with Wilson converting to stretch the lead to 24 points (29–5). Oranjemund were then reduced to 13 men when referee Robert Schonmetzler showed yellow cards to outside centre Ryan Wurms and replacement forward Reginald Losper. Despite the setback, Wilson slotted a penalty to make it 32–5. Replacement forward Given Julius added another try, and Wilson converted (39–5). Inside centre Everon Aspara scored a late consolation try for Ocean Swallows (39–10), with van Neel again missing the conversion. That remained the full-time score.
Mission accomplished – “The score is a true reflection of how the game went. We were better prepared and expected more from Swallows on their home ground. I know they’ll come back stronger because they have the talent,” said Oranjemund captain Gino Wilson. He added: “We are a step closer to winning the final this year. We have seven weeks to prepare. We've only played four games, while the teams from the First Division Central/North are still playing matches.”
This was Oranjemund's final league fixture ahead of the final scheduled for 21 June in Windhoek. The Diamond Town boys collected 15 points and cannot be overtaken by Swallows, who are on two points, or the Keetmanshoop Rams, who have six. Swallows will take on the Rams in Keetmanshoop on 24 May in the final First Division South fixture. Oranjemund will face the top-placed team from the First Division Central/North, with Vipers (25 points), Etosha Lions (24 points), and Okahandja Highlanders (15 points) all still in contention with three rounds of matches remaining.
Fast-paced start – Captain and inside centre Gino Wilson scored the opening try in the 5th minute. Scrum-half Ronald Solomons missed the conversion (5–0). Henis Shipepo (lock) replied for Ocean Swallows to level the score (5–5), but scrum-half Keanu van Neel failed to convert. Oranjemund’s eightman Keanan Beukes crashed over for their second try, with Wilson again missing the conversion (10–5). Beukes added a third try—his second of the match—but Wilson was again off target. The half-time score remained 10–5.
Second-half dominance – Lock Arnoldus Enslin powered over shortly after the break, with Wilson converting (17–5). Fly-half Heinrich Solomons also crossed the try line for Oranjemund, with Wilson converting to stretch the lead to 24 points (29–5). Oranjemund were then reduced to 13 men when referee Robert Schonmetzler showed yellow cards to outside centre Ryan Wurms and replacement forward Reginald Losper. Despite the setback, Wilson slotted a penalty to make it 32–5. Replacement forward Given Julius added another try, and Wilson converted (39–5). Inside centre Everon Aspara scored a late consolation try for Ocean Swallows (39–10), with van Neel again missing the conversion. That remained the full-time score.
Mission accomplished – “The score is a true reflection of how the game went. We were better prepared and expected more from Swallows on their home ground. I know they’ll come back stronger because they have the talent,” said Oranjemund captain Gino Wilson. He added: “We are a step closer to winning the final this year. We have seven weeks to prepare. We've only played four games, while the teams from the First Division Central/North are still playing matches.”
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