United take over at the top

Trustco United went to the top of the Rugby Premier League log for the first time this season after former log leaders FNB Wanderers were held to a draw at home by FNB Kudus. 

United secured their third consecutive victory after beating FNB Rehoboth 46-31 at the Hage Geingob Stadium, while Wanderers and Kudus drew 19-19 at the Wanderers field. 

FNB Western Suburbs, meanwhile, went third after a thrilling 22-20 victory against FNB Unam at Suburbs Park, while Reho Falcon got their first win of the season after beating FNB Grootfontein 35-29 at Rehoboth. 

At the Hage Geingob Stadium, United were always in charge against Rehoboth although the visitors competed well till the end. 

United’s forwards soon took control of the set pieces and lock Zander Bronkhorst opened the scoring when he burst over from a driving maul for a try converted by fullback Renier Benade. 

Further tries by eighthman Dean Blom and flanker Eloff du Plessis, both converted by Benade put them 21-0 ahead after the first quarter, and they seemed to be cruising to victory. 

Rehoboth, however, did well to fight back with tries by centre Henrique Olivier and fullback Jeandre Loubser and with a halftime deficit of 24-10 they were still in the game. 

Rehoboth closed the gap to 24-17 after a try in the corner by right wing Elmarco Beukes, but United soon regained the initiative with tries by Du Plessis and leftwing Edgar Beuthin to go 36-17 ahead. 

Rehoboth once again came back with a try by Jerome Schoeman after a fine break by Diego Loubser, but United pulled further away with two great tries by flanker Du Plessis, running 70m for the last one after an intercept counterattack initiated by flyhalf Hanreco van Zyl.

Rehoboth, however, kept on attacking and scored a late consolation penalty try, converted by scrumhalf Miguel Busch.

For United captain Du Plessis had a great game, scoring four tries, while the rest of their pack impressed in the set-pieces. 

Rehoboth, though outmuscled up front, fought till the end, with the centres Henrique Olivier and Diego Loubser creating numerous opportunities from the back. 

That was United’s third successive win which puts them at the top of the log on 15 points, while Wanderers move down to second place on 13 points after dropping points at home against Kudus. 

In a tight encounter, Wanderers took the lead through a try by rightwing Nandivatu Karuuombe and with centre Niel Holtzhauzen adding regular penalties, Wanderers seemed to have the match sewn up when they moved 19-9 ahead in the closing stages. 

Kudus, however, remained in contention through flyhalf Geraldo Beukes who added three penalties, and when hooker Jarred Koning went over for a converted try they were right back in the game. 

Beukes added another penalty to draw level at 19-19 and although Wanderers had a chance to win the game with a late penalty, Holtzhauzen’s attempt went wide and they had to settle for a draw. 

Western Suburbs, meanwhile, moved up to third place on the log after beating Unam 22-20 in a thriller at Suburbs Park. 

Suburbs scored three tries through rightwing Demarcho Hartung, centre Jayden Links and scrumhalf AJ Kearns, while Ricardo Swartz added two conversions and a penalty. 

Unam scored two tries through leftwing Shareave Titus and substitute Roaldo Rittmann, while flyhalf Aljerreau Zaahl added two conversions and two penalties. 

At Rehoboth, Reho Falcon beat Grootfontein 35-29 to move off the bottom of the log.

Falcons scored four tries through lock Ettienne Koopman, flanker Izador Jansen, leftwing Shaun Mouton and flyhalf Brandon Dentlinger.