Theron tries help Wanderers overcome Grootfontein
Club rugby
Both clubs have some injury concerns as the premier league's opening weekend approaches.
In the build-up to the Namibia Rugby Union club rugby leagues kicking off on 16 March, the first teams of FNB Wanderers and FNB Grootfontein took each other on in a pre-season warm-up match last Saturday.
The game was played at the field of Pionierspark Primary School.
Wanderers held the lead by 19-5 at half-time before eventually winning the match 26-17.
Wanderers scrumhalf Jacques Theron, playing at nr. 10 with Reben Botha as his halfback partner, displayed his agility on attack as he scored three tries. Number 8 Darius von Solms also went over from a lineout drive in the first half, but left the field with a leg injury shortly afterwards.
Geraldo Beukes, Wanderers full-back who previously played for FNB Rehoboth and most recently FNB Kudus, added three out of four conversions.
Grootfontein hooker and flank Wikus Jacobs scored two tries – one off a lineout maul and one off a run from a quick switch to the blind side. Grootfontein’s left wing Lazarus Joseph was also sent over in the first half after nr. 8 Pieter Daan Kok broke away from a scrum, while fullback AJ Vercuil landed two conversions.
The travellers from the north had the dominant scrum for much of the match, but suffered an early setback when flyhalf Ronnie Deck was ruled out for the season with a wrist fracture. Besides Von Solms, Wanderers also lost lock Rainer Augustyn and flank Ferion Beukes to hamstring strains.
Grootfontein’s assistant coach for the forwards, Ogies Louw, said it was a good game as they prepare for their opening NRU premier league fixture at home against FNB Western Suburbs.
“Our forward pack is up there. We still need to work on our backline play, but it will improve when the guys come to practice regularly. We believe we can be contesting to make the (premier league) final,” Louw said.
Wanderers head coach Dirk Human said the club used the occasion as trials. “Due to our injury list, we used half of the second team as well to give guys a run in certain positions in preparation for the upcoming season.
“In dribs and drabs we were good, but we couldn’t quite get rhythm, maybe mostly because we still have senior players out and new guys are adapting to the system. We are hopeful for some of them to return, for use to be ready to face Unam (on 16 March).”
Among the Wanderers absentees for the match included flyhalves André van der Berg (rib injury) and DJ Holtzhausen, centres Danco Burger (other commitments) and Danie van der Merwe (ankle injury), wing Warren Ludwig and hooker Obert Nortjé (completed level 2 coaching exam).
• In the pre-match, Wanderers’ second team beat Vipers 19-15.
• Other fixtures on the opening weekend of the NRU premier league on 16 March: FNB Rehoboth v Dolphin; FNB Kudus v FNB Reho Falcon.
The game was played at the field of Pionierspark Primary School.
Wanderers held the lead by 19-5 at half-time before eventually winning the match 26-17.
Wanderers scrumhalf Jacques Theron, playing at nr. 10 with Reben Botha as his halfback partner, displayed his agility on attack as he scored three tries. Number 8 Darius von Solms also went over from a lineout drive in the first half, but left the field with a leg injury shortly afterwards.
Geraldo Beukes, Wanderers full-back who previously played for FNB Rehoboth and most recently FNB Kudus, added three out of four conversions.
Grootfontein hooker and flank Wikus Jacobs scored two tries – one off a lineout maul and one off a run from a quick switch to the blind side. Grootfontein’s left wing Lazarus Joseph was also sent over in the first half after nr. 8 Pieter Daan Kok broke away from a scrum, while fullback AJ Vercuil landed two conversions.
The travellers from the north had the dominant scrum for much of the match, but suffered an early setback when flyhalf Ronnie Deck was ruled out for the season with a wrist fracture. Besides Von Solms, Wanderers also lost lock Rainer Augustyn and flank Ferion Beukes to hamstring strains.
Grootfontein’s assistant coach for the forwards, Ogies Louw, said it was a good game as they prepare for their opening NRU premier league fixture at home against FNB Western Suburbs.
“Our forward pack is up there. We still need to work on our backline play, but it will improve when the guys come to practice regularly. We believe we can be contesting to make the (premier league) final,” Louw said.
Wanderers head coach Dirk Human said the club used the occasion as trials. “Due to our injury list, we used half of the second team as well to give guys a run in certain positions in preparation for the upcoming season.
“In dribs and drabs we were good, but we couldn’t quite get rhythm, maybe mostly because we still have senior players out and new guys are adapting to the system. We are hopeful for some of them to return, for use to be ready to face Unam (on 16 March).”
Among the Wanderers absentees for the match included flyhalves André van der Berg (rib injury) and DJ Holtzhausen, centres Danco Burger (other commitments) and Danie van der Merwe (ankle injury), wing Warren Ludwig and hooker Obert Nortjé (completed level 2 coaching exam).
• In the pre-match, Wanderers’ second team beat Vipers 19-15.
• Other fixtures on the opening weekend of the NRU premier league on 16 March: FNB Rehoboth v Dolphin; FNB Kudus v FNB Reho Falcon.
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