United are the champions

Trustco United finally won the Namibian Rugby Premier League title after beating the defending champions FNB Wanderers 30-29 in a nerve-wracking final on Saturday. 

In a hard-fought encounter, Wanderers seemed to be heading for victory when they led 29-20 with three minutes to go, but a late try by Reinold Benade, and a conversion and penalty by his brother Renier gave United the title by the narrowest of margins. 

It was their first Premier League title in four years and only their second over the past ten years, and underlined the great strides that their young team had made over the past few years. 

Wanderers outscored United by four tries to three, but they conceded too many penalties, and Renier Benade made them pay, as he added 15 points with the boot to lead United to a stirring victory. 

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Benade gave United the lead with a penalty, but Wanderers soon went ahead when scrumhalf Reben Botha rounded off a great counter-attack by centre Danie van der Merwe for a converted try. 

Another Benade penalty reduced the deficit to 7-6, and United once again took the lead when hooker Gerhard Thirion burst over from a 5m lineout, and with Benade adding a great conversion from the touchline they went 13-7 ahead. 

Wanderers, however, came storming back and two tries towards the end of the first half put them back in front. 

Eighthman Driaan Vorster went over from a forward maul for an unconverted try and when flanker Anton Steenkamp rounded off another attack by centre Van der Merwe, with Niel Holtzhausen adding the conversion, Wanderers went 19-13 ahead at the halftime break. 

United immediately struck back at the start of the second half when eighthman Dean Blom went over from a forward maul, and with Benade adding a great kick from the touchline they regained the lead at 20-19. 

With fortunes swaying to and fro, Wanderers went 22-20 ahead through a Jantjies penalty, while Benade missed two relatively easy penalty attempts in short succession. 

Wanderers attacked furiously in the final quarter, winning two penalties, but Jantjies missed both, with one hitting the upright and bouncing away. Wanderers’ pressure finally told when prop forward Andre Rademeyer crashed over from a maul, and with Jantjies converting they went 29-20 ahead with three minutes remaining. 

United, however, came storming back from the kickoff, with rightwing Reinold Benade being sent over in the corner, while Renier converted from the touchline, and when they won an injury time penalty, Renier made no mistake as his kick sailed high through the posts to seal a great victory. 

It was their first title triumph since 2019 and was wildly celebrated by their players, officials and fans in the stands. 

United coach Robbie Dickson was ecstatic with the result. 

“I’m elated, it’s just so nice to see all the hard work paying off. These guys have really put their bodies on the line this year, and they have spent so much time on the field. I said last year, we will win a final – I didn’t give a time line, but I’m just super proud of the boys,” he said. 

“Coming from where we were about a year or two ago, with a very young squad, I think the average age is only 23 or 24, and I’ve got six guys who are only 19 years old, so it means a tremendous amount to us,” he added.