NAMIBIA comfortably beat Kenya 56-21 after an unrelenting first half assault in their CAR Africa Cup match in Windhoek on Saturday afternoon.
In a dominant first half display, Namibia ran in six converted tries to take a 42-7 halftime lead and although Kenya provided stiffer opposition in the second half, the outcome was never in doubt.
Namibia’s forwards laid the platform for victory with a huge physical performance, while fly half Theuns Kotze gave a faultless kicking display on his 29th birthday, converting all eight tries for a personal tally of 16 points.
Man of the match Tinus du Plessis led the way with two tries, while captain Tjiuee Uanivi, Chrysander Botha, Rohan Kitshoff, Gino Wilson, Russell van Wyk and Johan Deysel scored one try each.
For Kenya, James Kangethe scored two tries and Isaac Adimo one, while Darwin Mukidzwa, Dan Sikuta and Fabian Olanda each added a conversion.
The match had barely begun before Kenya lock Simon Muniafo was sin binned for foul play, and Namibia immediately took advantage as captain Tjiuee Uanivi rounded off a forward maul for the opening try after only three minutes.
Full back Chrysander Botha went over three minutes later and with Namibia’s forwards battering away at Kenya’s defence, further tries by Rohan Kitshoff and right wing Gino Wilson saw them racing into a 28-0 lead after only 18 minutes.
Namibia kept up their relentless pressure and eighthman Tinus du Plessis crashed over for two more tries in quick succession to put the home side 42-0 ahead after only 28 minutes, to effectively end the contest.
Kenya finally opened their account on 32 minutes when fly half Isaac Adimo, danced through some half hearted tackles to score, with wing Darwin Mukidza adding the conversion, to make the halftime score 42-7.
Right wing Russell van Wyk scored six minutes into the second half after a fine break by centre Johan Deysel, while Deysel himself dotted down after being put clear down the right wing to put Namibia 56-7 ahead after 58 minutes.
The game became a bit scrappy while numerous substitutions also slowed the tempo down, but Kenya finished stronger, scoring two tries in the final quarter.
Substitute forward James Kangethe scored both after Kenya battered away at Namibia’s defence, with Fabian Olando converting one and Dan Sikuta the other.
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