Unam, Wanderers in contrasting wins

UNAM and Wanderers won in contrasting style to pull further away from the chasing pack in rugby Premier League matches over the weekend.

Unam were pushed all the way before beating Western Suburbs 16-11, but Wanderers gained a bonus point after beating United 35-23.

In other matches, Kudus beat Walvis Bay 17-16 in a thriller at the coast, while the Rehoboth derby also went down to the wire, with Rehoboth beating Reho Falcon 22-18.

On Friday night, Wanderers ran in four tries to beat United 35-23, after leading 20-9 at halftime.

United gave a good account of themselves, with their forwards matching Wanderers in the set pieces, and they took an early 6-0 lead through two penalties by lock Winmar Rust.

Wanderers, however, took a 7-6 lead midway through the first half after a great try by their young centre Jandre du Toit who turned on the pace to cut through United’s backline and dive over under the posts, with fly half Mahco Prinsloo converting.

Prinsloo and Rust exchanged penalties, but Wanderers caught United napping with two strikes just before halftime.

Another Prinsloo penalty put Wanderers 13-9 ahead and then from the kickoff, Wanderers scrum half Enem Kritzinger broke away to send flanker Dirk de Meyer diving over under the posts for a converted try.

After leading by only one point, Wanderers were suddenly 20-9 ahead and well in control of the match.

United made a frantic start to the second half, but it was Wanderers who stretched their lead when lock Kevin Vorster crashed over for a converted try after a quick penalty.

United struck back and won a penalty try after left wing Elmo van der Byl was impeded with an open try line ahead, but another Prinsloo penalty put Wanderers 30-16 ahead with 20 minutes to go.

Once again United came back when hooker Niel van Vuuren went over from a line-out and with Rust adding the conversion they were within striking distance of Wanderers, trailing 30-23.

United attacked relentlessly in the final stages with Rust, scrum half Moranzel Strauss and wing Nandivatu Karuuombe all coming close to scoring, but Wanderers had the final say when Kritzinger nipped over for a try from a forward maul.

Log leaders Unam maintained their unbeaten run but they were pushed all the way before beating Suburbs at the Unam Stadium.

The two sides were still level, 6-all at halftime, with the respective fullbacks Lorenzo Louis and Ricardo Swartz each putting over two penalties.

Unam, however, took the lead through a penalty try and a further penalty by Denver Murorua, and although Suburbs responded with a try by flanker Vaughan Petersen it wasn’t enough as Unam held on for their eighth successive win of the season.

At the coast, Kudus also had to overcome a tough challenge before beating Walvis Bay 17-16.

Kudus’ points came via a try by left wing Zane Williams and two penalties apiece by fly half Ulriato Lawrence and replacement back Luke Jansen.

In the Rehoboth derby, Rehoboth made a fine comeback to beat Reho Falcon 22-18.

Falcons still led 7-5 at halftime, but Rehoboth eventually ran in four tries through eighthman Charl Freygang, fullback Reduanne Beukes, flanker Charl Fortuin and fly half Nazume Swartz, who also added one conversion.

Reho Falcon scored two tries through fly half Deslee Beukes and left wing Steward Swartz, while Beukes added two penalties and scrum half Howard Titus one conversion.

Unam are still comfortably in the lead on 40 points from eight matches, followed by Wanderers on 34 and Suburbs on 26. They are followed by Kudus on 23, United and Walvis Bay on 18, Rehoboth on 17 and Reho Falcon on four points.