Unam earn one-point win over Suburbs

FNB University of Namibia (Unam) survived by the narrowest of margins when they won their Namibia Rugby Union premier league match against FNB Western Suburbs by 32-21 at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides scored four tries, but it was the student team who emerged victorious to lift the inaugural Ribbeon Challenge Cup, as part of Suburbs’ initiative to use the match for the promotion of cancer awareness.
Unam scored three times to have a seemingly comfortable 19-5 lead at half-time, but the Khomasdal team rallied with a determined fightback until the final minute, falling just one point short.
Suburbs right wing Dumarcho Hartung was first on the scoreboard with an opportunistic try in the corner, but through constant pressure Unam created tries for Shareave Titus (right wing), Oderich Mouton (eighth man) and Cameron Klassen (scrum half) before half-time.
The students lost prop Hilwen Fourie to a yellow card when he tackled a Suburbs player who had taken a quick-tap penalty from an offside position. These 10 minutes were part of Suburbs’ recovery, as they worked hooker Vernon Diergaardt over for a try in the left corner.
Ricardo Swartz missed the conversion, but made no mistake with the ensuing penalty awarded on the centre spot against the Unam defenders who were late in falling on top of Diergaardt after his try.

Trademark dive
As Unam now led 19-13, a couple of penalties were exchanged between Delron Brandt (Unam) and Bronwon Willemse to advance to 22-16.
Suburbs captain and left wing Gino Wilson rounded off a move with a trademark dive over the try line after a Justin Nel line break before Willemse missed the conversion.
A poorly executed Suburbs counter-attack off a kick resulted in Unam winning a penalty and working prop Simon Kanime over for a try, which Brandt converted.
Swartz and Brandt then exchanged penalties (Unam 32, Suburbs 24), before captain Wilson scored his second try of the day, converted by Swartz, off a quick penalty tap.
The bonus-point win keeps Unam in third position on the log, with Suburbs in fourth, nine points adrift.

Wanderers remain at the top
Following a few difficult weekends with losses to FNB Kudus and Unam and a close win against Trustco United, FNB Wanderers took full advantage of their visit to bottom-of-the-log FNB Reho Falcon.
Wanderers scored seven tries in their 50-28 win, which earned them a second bonus point for the day.
Their try scorers were wings Coburn Claasen (three), Ryan Coetzee, number eight Thomasau Forbes, hooker Dandre Schreuder and lock Driaan Vorster. Fly half and captain André van der Berg slotted six of the seven conversions, as well as a penalty.
Reho Falcon stayed in the fight with a four-try bonus point, rounded off by scrum half Brian Bayer, centres Liam Parker and Angus Human and replacement back Shaun Mouton. Fly half Franklin Busch succeeded with all four conversions.

Win for Grootfontein
FNB Grootfontein earned their first win since the second match day in early April, when they beat Trustco United in Olympia (41-21).
The northern side’s six tries – scored by wings Nolan Mostert (two) and Ian Malan, centre Buruxa Geiseb, lock Johan Luttig and flank Allie Emamdien – earned them a vital bonus point.
The kicking points were added by centre Louis Grobbelaar (three conversions) and fly half Dion Venter (one penalty).
Although Grootfontein remains sixth on the log just ahead of United, they remain in contention to fight for the semi-final spot they narrowly lost out on last year.
The win was achieved despite three yellow cards – to Luttig (two) and fellow lock Oliver Mouton.
United’s try scorers were centre JD Nel and hooker and captain Eloff du Plessis, as well as a penalty try. Fly half Chris Arries landed two conversions.

Kudus beat Rehoboth
FNB Kudus consolidated their second spot with a 31-20 away win against FNB Rehoboth.
Wing Jeandre Loubser (two) and centre Elmarco Beukes scored tries for Rehoboth, along with five kicking points from Geraldo Beukes.
However, Kudus emerged dominant and earned a bonus point through tries by Lloyd Jacobs, wings Aston Mukwiilongo and Paolo Andres and replacement centre PJ Walters. Fly half Rayton Paulse added four conversions and a penalty.