Battle for semi spots heats up 

The battle for a spot in the semifinals of the Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League is heating up with some decisive encounters in store tomorrow.

Log leaders FNB Unam (61 points) are not in action this weekend, but FNB Wanderers, who are eight points behind in second place, can close the gap if they beat Trustco United on their home ground in Pionierspark tomorrow. 

Wanderers, however, are quite depleted with 10 players in the national squad in Uganda, and will be up against a determined United side who are in a tough battle to make the top four knock-out spots. 

They are currently fifth on the log on 31 points – just one point behind FNB Grootfontein and a win against their arch-enemies tomorrow could be decisive in their battle for the knock-out stages.

Wanderers won their first round encounter 31-15 at United’s Gemsbok Park on 27 April, but they had a stronger side then, and with United now fighting for survival, a humdinger could be in store at the Wanderers ground tomorrow.

Grootfontein, meanwhile, will have their work cut out to remain in fourth place as they face a difficult away trip to third-placed FNB Kudus at Walvis Bay. 

Kudus, who are unbeaten in their last four matches, have moved up to 48 points, and with a 16-point lead over Grootfontein they are now just about assured of a place in the semifinals.

Grootfontein, however, have all to play for and tomorrow’s encounter could once again go down to the wire like their first round clash on 27 April that Kudus edged 27-26. 

FNB Reho Falcon, however, are also in a battle for the fourth spot, and will fancy their chances when they host bottom-of-the-log Simonis Storm Dolphins at Rehoboth. 

Falcons are currently sixth on the log on 26 points, but they have a match in hand on both Grootfontein and United, and a maximum-points win against Dolphins will put them in pole position for a top-four spot.

In tomorrow’s final match, FNB Western Suburbs host FNB Rehoboth at Suburbs Park, and although both sides still have a mathematical chance of making the semifinals, their chances are highly unlikely. 

Suburbs (23 points) are now already nine points behind fourth-placed Grootfontein, and Rehoboth (20 points), 12 points behind, and not likely to make up the deficit, but a lot of pride will still be at stake between the two old adversaries.