Rehoboth stun Unam

FNB Rehoboth pulled off a stunning 31-25 victory against FNB Unam on Saturday to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Namibia Rugby Premier League.

Unam seemed to be in the driving seat when they led 25-21 with 10 minutes to go, but Rehoboth produced a great comeback with scrumhalf Miquel Busch scoring the match-winning try, while flyhalf Henrique Olivier added the conversion and a late penalty to seal a great victory.

It capped another influential display by the livewire Busch, who scored two tries in total, while Olivier gave a near faultless kicking display. 

The win put Rehoboth fifth on the log on 31 points from 12 matches, and now just three points behind FNB Western Suburbs, who beat FNB Reho Falcon 44-22 at Rehoboth. Unam, who are sixth on 29 points are, however, still in with a shout to make the semifinals. 

FNB Kudus, meanwhile, beat FNB Grootfontein 52-31 at Walvis Bay to go one point ahead of FNB Wanderers at the top of the log on 49 points.

But the decisive match in terms of the semifinal battle took place at the Unam Stadium where Rehoboth rose to the occasion with a passionate display. 

After some early attacks, they took the lead through a great try by flanker Diego Loubser, who cut through the backline like a hot knife through butter to dive over behind the posts, with Olivier converting. 

Unam opened their account with a Lorenzo Louis penalty and when hooker Jayden Jeffrey crashed over from a forward maul, with Louis converting, they went 10-7 ahead.

Unam kept on attacking, but Rehoboth’s defence stood firm and they regained the lead just before halftime with an opportunistic try by Busch who caught Unam’s defence napping when he took a quick tap penalty to dive over. With Olivier adding a great conversion from the touchline, Rehoboth took a 14-10 lead at halftime. 

Rehoboth maintained the pressure with both Olivier and Busch narrowly wide with drop goal attempts, and after a counterattack by Busch, lock forward  Charl Freygang crashed over for a converted try as Rehoboth stretched their lead to 21-10.

Unam immediately struck back with a converted try by scrumhalf AJ Kearns after a darting run by Shareave Titus, and after incessant pressure, flanker Berry Gande crashed over in the corner and although Louis’ conversion went wide, Unam were back in front at 22-21.

With tempers heating up, Unam were awarded a penalty for foul play and with Louis’ kick sailing high through the posts they went 25-21 ahead with 12 minutes to go. 

Rehoboth, however, came storming back and after winning a scrum on Unam’s line, Busch once again caught the defence flatfooted as he sneaked over for a try, and with Olivier converting and adding a late penalty Rehoboth took the spoils. 

That win put them firmly in the race for the knockout stages, as they are now just three points behind Suburbs, who beat Reho Falcon 44-22 at Rehoboth. 

Suburbs scored six tries through fullback Gino Wilson (two), rightwing Dumarcho Hartung, centre Darryl Vries, flyhalf Ethan Beukes and lock forward Fidel Micolleney, while substitute scrumhalf Bronwon Willemse added three conversions and a penalty, and leftwing Lezardo Williams one conversion and a penalty. 

Falcons scored three tries through centre Liam Parker, and flankers Russel van Wyk and Keynenn Basson, while scrumhalf Enrique Husselmann added two conversions and a penalty. 

Kudus, meanwhile, replaced Wanderers at the top of the log after a resounding 52-31 win against Grootfontein, although Wanderers, who were not in action, have a match in hand. 

Kudus scored eight tries through centre Justin Newman (two), rightwing Zane Williams, eighthman Alexander Jansen, flanker William Lottering, lock Tersius Arangies, replacement back Lloyd Jacobs and flyhalf Geraldo Beukes, who added three conversions, while centre Aurelio Plato also added three conversions. 

For Grootfontein, replacement forward Amutenya Amutenya scored three tries and flanker James Hinga and lock Reinhardt Carelse one each, while flyhalf Sergio Dinniz added three conversions.