Rehoboth settles for a draw at Wanderers

Coach Gerald Loubser and his FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club’s first team seemed quite deliberate in their immediate reaction – not to be too despondent after Saturday’s 25-25 draw at favourites FNB Wanderers.

Rehoboth held a 20-10 lead at half-time before a tight finish led to the result which cost Wanderers one log position (now second) and the Red Bulls two positions (now sixth).

The race for the fourth spot before the semi-finals is still wide open and Rehoboth will be aware that a golden opportunity had slipped from their grasp to beat a team in the top half of the competition.

Eugene Jantjies, 36-year-old veteran and the only Namibian to play in four World Cup tournaments, came off the bench for Wanderers to replace Ethan Koopman (this year’s national under-20 fly-half) and land the decisive conversion that ultimately levelled the scores.

Unbeaten Wanderers had their backline especially disrupted with brothers DJ Holtzhausen (concussion) and Niel Holtzhausen (work) both absent, as well as centre Kian Fransman, wings Warren Ludiwg and Nico Maartens all injured, while influential full-back Denzo Bruwer is awaiting the approval of a visa before he will depart to play club rugby in Poland.



Brilliant finish

Flank Driaan Vorster crashed over for Wanderers first try, along with Koopman’s conversion and a penalty, but Rehoboth opened up their 20-10 lead at half-time thanks to two tries.

The first try was a brilliant finish from left wing Dolano Vries chasing after a grubber into the goal area by scrumhalf Gurtley Beukes, while number eight Edward Drotsky was at the back end of a lineout maul try.

Fly-half Henrique Olivier added both conversions, and two early penalties.

Danie van der Merwe, moved from scrumhalf to outside centre, had held his own against Welwitschias incumbent Hillian Beukes, but a tip tackle against his direct opponent earned him a yellow card spent in the sin bin on either side of half-time. Drotsky’s first try was scored shortly after Van der Merwe left the field.

Koopman reduced the deficit with a penalty before Van der Merwe finished off a period of determined Wanderers pressure when his centre partner Bredell Wessels sent him diving over between two Rehoboth defenders. Koopman missed the conversion (20-18).

Drotsky broke away from another driving maul to dive over for his second try, which Olivier didn’t convert.

Wanderers threw everything into the final minutes and set up another penalty lineout. With some backs piling into the maul, flank NG Swart scored the try for Jantjies to land the crucial conversion.

Olivier had one more shot with a penalty, but his kick sailed wide.



UNAM CLIMB TO FIFTH

As expected, FNB Unam found some resistance at FNB Reho Falcon, but came away 38-26 winners.

Winning their second away match in a row after Grootfontein the week before lifted the struggling 2022 runners-up two positions from seventh to fifth.

Full-back Aljarreau Zaahl (two tries, one conversion) was joined on the score sheet by centres Kieron Diergaardt and Johannes Mwenyo, scrum-half AJ Kearns and lock Conwill Draghoender. Raschano van Rooi (fly-half) scored three conversions.

Falcon did not find a fourth try for a bonus point, after five-pointers by lock Lwando Nteta, wing Prince January and centre Franklin Karigub. Full-back Enrique Husselmann (three penalties) and scrum-half Dillon Kahman (one conversion) added kicking points.



SUBURBS ENTER TOP FOUR

FNB Western Suburbs answered the doubters with a narrow 32-25 away win against FNB Grootfontein, adding a bonus point as well.

Centre Jayden Links (two) and wings Dumarcho Hartung and Jayson Morkel were their try-scorers, while Justin Nel’s three conversions and two penalties proved crucial as well.

Grootfontein could only add the losing bonus point, following tries by number eight Amutenya Amutenya, hooker and captin Callie Swanepoel and replacement Wikus Jacobs. Full-back Ronald Deck added 10 points (two conversions, two penalties).

Meanwhile, FNB Kudus regained the top spot with a win against Trustco United. Read more on Page 1 of Sport Wrap.



For results, fixtures, log standings and news, visit fnbrugby.my.na.