Unam display title credentials

FNB Unam displayed their title credentials in the Namibian rugby premier league with a great 31-20 come-from-behind victory away to FNB Grootfontein on Saturday. 

In a close encounter between two evenly matched teams, that saw the lead changing hands several times, Grootfontein seemed to be heading for victory when they led 20-17 in the final stages. 

Unam, however, made a great comeback, scoring two tries in the last three minutes to wrap up their fifth successive win which puts them six points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the log. 

Grootfontein took the lead when their livewire hooker Wicus Jacobs crashed over for a try after pressure by their forwards, but Unam were soon level when winger Quirione Majiedt rounded off a quick backline attack. 

Unam stretched their lead to 12-5 when centre Kieron Diergaardt broke clear from a ruck to go over for a try converted by Aljerreau Zaahl, but a try by Grootfontein fullback Alfred Vercuil in the corner brought them right back in the game with a 12-10 deficit at halftime. 

Grootfontein regained the lead shortly after the restart when Jacobs went over for his second try after a great line break by Vercuil, and with flanker Oliver Mouton putting over the conversion, the home side went 17-12 ahead. 

With attacks coming to and fro, Unam drew level at 17-17 when Majiedt went over for his second try, but Grootfontein edged 20-17 ahead Vercuil put over a 40m penalty with 10 minutes to go.

Grootfontein defended courageously in the final stages when Unam pounded away at their line, but Unam’s pressure finally told as two late tries by prop Bigman Kaura and centre Alcino Izaacs gave them a hard-fought victory. 

Unam now lead the log on 26 points from five matches – six points ahead of FNB Kudus who beat FNB Rehoboth 39-23 at Walvis Bay. Kudus scored six tries in the process through rightwing Irongwa Atshivudhi, centre Justin Newman, eighthman Joshua Jacobs, lock Enzo Kotze, hooker Luaan Karsten and substitute forward Henri Rossouw, while flyhalf Scott Winburn added two conversions and a penalty, and substitute back Kyle Wentzel another conversion. 

Western Suburbs, meanwhile, got their first win of the season when they beat Dolphin Rugby Club 33-17 at Suburbs Park.

In a scrappy match, Dolphin took an early 5-0 lead when rightwing Rashaad van Rooyen went over in the corner, but Suburbs came back strongly and eighthman Dhale Cloete finally went over for a try converted by Justin Nel. 

Suburbs continued to pound away at Dolphin’s line and tries by flanker Kameya Sebastian and left wing Jayden Links gave them a comfortable 19-5 lead at the break.

When Cloete crashed over for his second try shortly after the restart they seemed to be heading for a big win with a 26-5 lead, but Dolphins showed great character to come back with a try by their captain and prop Tjino Tjirare.

Suburbs, however, pulled 33-12 ahead through a try by prop Kaverua Uvatera before a consolation try by Dolphin fullback Zaino van Wyk made the final score 33-17.