Unam widens gap at the top

UNAM moved 11 points clear at the top of the log after comfortably beating Kudus 56-16, while second-placed Wanderers suffered a shock 22-15 defeat against Walvis Bay at the coast.

In other Rugby Premier League matches on Saturday, Western Suburbs beat Rehoboth 25-10, while United beat Reho Falcon 15-7.

At the Unam Stadium, the home team ran in eight tries to complete a double-bonus point win over Kudus.

Unam got off to a flying start when centre Camlo Martin burst through for the opening try within a minute, and they piled on the pressure to race into a 35-6 lead by halftime.

The impressive Martin completed a hattrick of tries, while fellow centre Milaan van Wyk and lock Kame Mieze scored two more, with fullback Denver Murorua converting all the kicks.

Unam ran in three more tries after the break through winger Romanzo Lento, fly half Helarius Kisting and substitute back Lorenzo Louis, while Murorua completed a great kicking display by converting all eight the tries.

Kudus managed to score two tries in the second half through fullback Carlton Stevens and centre Paulo Andrews, while fly half Ulriato Lawrence converted both and added two penalties.

The result puts Unam 11 points clear on the log on 46 points from nine matches, while Kudus are now fourth on 23 points.

Wanderers suffered a shock defeat against a highly motivated Walvis Bay at the coast.

Walvis Bay were reduced to 14 men after only 15 minutes when centre Ngume Ngaiko received a red card for a spear tackle, and they had to finish the last 10 minutes of the match with only 13 men after Marvin Kotzee got a yellow card for a high tackle.

Walvis Bay, however, prevailed in a tough encounter, taking a 15-0 lead before repelling a Wanderers comeback to win the match 22-10.

Left wing Jeroen van Dam scored two tries, a penalty and a conversion, scrum half Keeane Wellman scored one try and fullback Lloyd Jacobs one conversion.

For Wanderers, left wing Henning Snyman scored two tries and scrum half Enem Kritzinger one.

Wanderers remain second on the log on 35 points, while Walvis Bay remain sixth on 22 points.

At FNB Suburbs Park, Western Suburbs beat Rehoboth 25-10 after leading 13-3 at halftime.

Rehoboth gave a good account of themselves, keeping Suburbs at bay with some fine defending, but Suburbs’ dominance finally started to count as they ran in four tries to one.

Rehoboth took the lead through a penalty by Nazume Swartz, but after several attacks, Suburbs struck back with a try by prop Aleck Botha.

Swartz missed two kickable penalties for Rehoboth and Suburbs stretched their lead when eighthman Vakomboka Kamboo gathered a kick ahead to dive over for an unconverted try.

A penalty by Suburbs centre Cardo Swartz put them 13-3 ahead and Rehoboth did well just before halftime to hold up a near certain try by Suburbs flanker Vaughan Petersen.

Suburbs went 20-3 ahead just after the break when right wing Collins Omalu finished a backline move, and after unrelenting pressure, another touchdown by left wing Junior Alweendo put them 25-3 ahead.

Rehoboth refused to give up and were rewarded with a try by centre Chase Diergaardt in the final minute, with Swartz adding the conversion.

Suburbs remain third on 31 points, while Rehoboth are seventh on 17 points.

At Trustco United Park, United also withstood a strong challenge from Reho Falcon before winning the match 15-7.

Falcons took a 7-0 lead at the break through a try by centre Gregory Stein, converted by Des-Lee Beukes, but United struck back with second half tries by fly half Ascher Coetzee and left wing Stefan Louw, and a penalty and conversion by Winmar Rust.

United remain fifth on the log on 22 points, while Falcons are bottom of the log on four points.