United and Unam are through to the women’s rugby final after beating Wanderers and Kudus respectively in their semifinals at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
United beat Wanderers 23-22 in an enthralling match that ebbed and flowed throughout, while Unam fullback Ivonne Kooper was the star of the show, scoring five tries in their 37-3 victory over Kudus.
Wanderers had beaten United in both their league encounters this year, but on Saturday United finally turned the tables with a disciplined performance.
United did the initial attacking and went 10-0 ahead after two early tries.
Winger Richardine Gaya went over in the corner after concerted pressure by United’s forwards, while flyhalf Michelle Slinger added a second with a fine solo try, after collecting her grubber kick to dot down.
Wanderers opened their account with a penalty by Sune Wittmann and then drew level through a try by winger Lizzle Tauxas after a great counterattack by Wittmann and Ida Visagie.
United, however, regained the lead through a Slinger penalty to go 13-10 ahead at the halftime break.
Wanderers struck back with a vengeance after the break and took a 22-13 lead after two tries in quick succession.
Winger Ida Visagie first cut through the backline to score behind the posts, with Wittmann converting, while winger LizzleTauxas turned on the pace to dot down for an unconverted try in the corner.
United came back, launching incessant attacks with captain and eighthman Geraldine Louw prominent, and after relentless pressure, they finally won a penalty try after repeated infringements by Wanderers’ forwards, to reduce the gap to 22-20.
The momentum was now back with United, while Wanderers were reduced to 14 players when their lock forward Laurencia Rooinasie was yellow carded for foul play, and United finally clinched the match when substitute back Fulchen Bock put over a penalty in the closing minutes.
The other semifinal was more one-sided as Unam ground out a commanding victory.
Displaying an expansive attacking game, Unam ran Kudus off their feet with the mercurial Kooper at the centre of their attacks.
She opened Unam’s account with a great try, turning on the pace to go over in the left hand corner, but Kudus soon struck back through a penalty by fullback Tiffany Lawrence.
Kudus provided strong resistance in the opening stages, but another try and penalty by Kooper put Unam 13-3 ahead by the halftime break.
Unam eighthman Mandy Hansen went over from a forward maul early in the second half, before Kooper grabbed centre stage, scoring three tries through her pace and guile to hand Unam an impressive victory.
Rightwing Fiona Vliete, who also had a great match, added two conversions as Unam ran out comfortable 37-3 winners.
Unam and United will now meet in the women’s final on 2 September.
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