Big upsets in opening round of Rugby Premier League 

There were some big upsets in the opening round of the Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League which got underway on Saturday.

FNB Grootfontein stunned Trustco United with a nailbiting 24-23 win at United Park, while FNB Western Suburbs beat last year’s runners-up FNB Unam 24-22 at Suburbs Park. 

Defending champions FNB Wanderers, meanwhile, got off to a strong start after beating FNB Reho Falcon 61-23 at Rehoboth, while FNB Kudus also posted a big win, beating coastal neighbours FNB Dolphins 55-7 at Walvis Bay. 

At Trustco United Park, Grootfontein edged United 24-23 in a thriller between two evenly-matched teams. 

Grootfontein took the lead when eighthman Eloff du Plessis rounded off a forward maul for an unconverted try, but Enrique Husselmann opened United’s account with a penalty and when flanker Freddie Mazila burst over from a lineout maul for a try converted by Husselmann, United took the lead for the first time. Another Husselmann penalty gave them a 13-5 lead at the halftime break. 

Grootfontein came back with a vengeance after the break when substitute forward Mbimbo Mbai burst over for a try and when captain Wicus Jacobs went over from a maul with Lous Grobellaar adding the conversion they were back in front at 17-13. 

Grootfontein went 24-13 ahead after fullback Louis Vercuil rounded off a slick backline attack, but United stormed back to ensure a thrilling finish. 

Left wing Jandre Esterhuysen went over in the corner and with Husselmann putting over a great kick from the touchline and then also adding a penalty, United were just a point behind at 24-23. 

They threw everything at Grootfontein in the final stages but the visitors held on for a hard-fought victory. 

It was a valuable away win for Grootfontein, which certainly puts them amongst the favourites for the title, especially since this year’s league will only be played over one round. 

Western Suburbs, meanwhile, got off to a great start under new coach Jood Opperman with a 24-22 home win against Unam. 

Suburbs scored three tries through Dwayne van Zyl, Delano van Wyk and Danielle Coetzee, with Van Zyl adding two conversions and a penalty, and Dylan Izaaks one conversion, while Unam scored three tries through Camlo Martin, Shareave Titus and Andrew Kearns, with Raschano van Rooi adding two conversions and a penalty. 

Defending champions FNB Wanderers got off to a strong start with a 61-23 victory away to Reho Falcon.

They ran in nine tries with Johnny Mwenyo and Liam Compion scoring two each, and Joe Losper, Edwardt Drotsky, Geraldo Beukes and Denzo Bruwer one each, while Bruwer added eight conversions for a personal tally of 21 points. 

For Falcons, Shaun Mouton and Fabian Routh scored tries, while Fagan Beukes addeds two conversions and three penalties. 

Kudus also opened their account with a big win against Dolphins to go to the top of the log on points difference. 

They ran in nine tries to collect maximum bonus points, with fullback Aston Mukwiilongo scoring three, and Irongwa Atshivudhi, Rayshawn Shoombe, Ja-Tamson van den Berg, Roberto Lensley, Anthony Hoebeb and Lloyd Jacobs scoring one each, while Michael Koopman added three conversions. 

Jerome Schumann scored Dolphins’ solitary try, converted by Zaino van Wyk. 

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