Inspired Falcons take a share of the spoils

Reho Falcon gave an inspired performance to hold Trustco United to a 21-21 draw in a Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League match at the United field on Saturday. 

Playing for their former chairman Ettienne Coetzee, his sons Edmando and Ethan, as well as their friend Greshlinn Bruwer, who died in a motor car accident three weeks ago, Falcons rose to the occasion with a superb performance as they emerged with a share of the spoils against the defending league champions.

In a bruising battle, with some big hits on both sides, Falcons defended as if their lives depended on it, and with a bit of luck could even have won the match.

Playing with passion and flair, Falcons came out attacking from the start and swept into a 14-0 lead after two early tries. Flyhalf Casey Beukes first cut through United’s backline, and after exchanging passes dived over behind the posts, and then barely three minutes later, rightwing Enrique Husselmann launched a counterattack from his own half to send scrumhalf Brian Bayer away for another converted try. 

United responded with their forwards bashing away at Falcons line, before flanker Thehard Lintvelt went over in the corner, only to be called back for a forward pass. 

United’s heavier forwards, however, started to dominate the territorial possession and finally opened their account when flanker Freddy Mazila crashed over from a forward maul.

United continued to bash away at Falcons’ line but the visitors defended bravely to keep them out till halftime. 

Falcons came back with a vengeance after the break and squandered two great chances to increase their lead. Fullback Ashton van Wyk first kicked narrowly wide from a penalty attempt and then left wing Daniel Bezuidenhout  went over in the corner, only to be called back for a forward pass. 

United struck back when flyhalf Hanreco van Zyl launched a counter-attack and followed his grubber kick up to collect and dive over, and with centre Ricardo Swartz once again converting they were level at 14-all.

The momentum started shifting United’s way as they continued to pound away at Falcons’ line and they finally took the lead when left wing Kauee Kuhanga went over in the corner after a backline overlap.

Falcons refused to give up and after a great attack by Husselmann went astray due to a knock-on, Bezuidenhout sent Bayer away to dive over under the posts, and with Husselmann adding the conversion they were once again level at 21-21.

Both teams had chances to win it in the end with Husselmann missing a 50m penalty attempt for Falcons, while a Swartz drop kick went wide, and in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Falcons’ eighthman and captain Cameron Markus said they played for their ‘fallen soldiers.’

“The boys put in a lot of hard work through the week, and it’s just a shame we didnt get the win. We were not just playing for ourselves, we were playing for our fans and our fallen soldiers that we lost a few weeks ago,” he said. 

The result leaves both teams at the wrong end of the table, with United in sixth position on nine points and Falcons seventh on seven points. Falcons, however, still have a game in hand on most of the teams, and can move further up if they beat bottom-placed Dolphin RC in Swakop next weekend. 

“Now it’s back to the drawing board to try and improve for our next game in Swakopmund. We have to keep working hard, not just for ourselves, but also for the management, and to work towards trying to make the knockout stages of the league,” Markus said.