Jaguars one step away from premiership status

JAGUARS Rugby Club are one hurdle away from entering the Namibia Rugby Union’s (NRU) premier division after winning their semi-final match in the first division 11-8 against Harlequins from Keetmanshoop at United Sports Club on Saturday.

Nathan van Wyk dotted down the Katutura-based side’s only try in the first half, while Elvis ‘Puma’ Elias succeeded with two penalty kicks. The visitors led 5-8 at the break in a match that also saw George Meyer of Jaguars being red-carded after he kicked an opponent while on the ground.Jaguars team manager Ananias Iyambo said he was not happy with the decision by the referee to give Meyer a red card, since a Harlequins player was not sent off for hitting Elias with his fist.”The referee was inconsistent in his decisions and this is disappointing.Despite that, we are extremely excited that we have qualified for the finals of the first division and we are hoping to make an impact on Saturday,” he said.Jaguars will now meet Grootfontein in a deciding match to be played at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in Windhoek this coming Saturday.Since their re-establishment in 2001, Jaguars have been working their way through to the top league and if they make it, they will find the going tough against the well-established premiership sides.Jaguars official Qualify Mathias says playing in the semi-finals on Saturday was a historic milestone for the club.”This achievement is not only attributed to the current players and administrators, but to all, especially the sponsors, Medscheme, who have played a significant role in bringing the club where it is today,” he said.Mathias, a former forward of the club, said the final this weekend will be “do or die” for the club and he was confident that the players would go all out to make history.Meanwhile, Wanderers – who beat Reho Falcon 29-29 in the premier division at the weekend – will play United in the final next weekend.United beat Western Suburbs 24-20 on Saturday to claim a place in the final of the premiership.Suburbs, who thought that they had wrapped up the game when they led 20-17 with only six minutes to go before the end, were devastated by a marvellous try by Janse van Rensburg, which flyhalf Morne Schreuder converted with ease.United took a first-minute lead when captain Herman Lintvelt burst over from a maul, with Schreuder adding the conversion.United looked stronger in the set pieces, especially the scrums, but Suburbs attacked with their quick backline.In the 18th minute Suburbs scrumhalf Eugene Jantjies kicked a loose ball forward and winger McGrath van Wyk dotted down in the corner.Van Wyk missed the conversion, but Suburbs were now back in the game at 7-5.Schreuder put United further ahead through a penalty, but another McGrath van Wyk try, initiated through a fine pass by Roger Thompson, put the teams on level terms.Just before halftime Suburbs took the lead through a penalty by Van Wyk.United attacked for most of the second half but Suburbs’ defence stood firm.Finally, in the 65th minute United flanker Michael Mackenzie burst over from a maul and with Schreuder adding the conversion, United were now leading 17-13.But Suburbs immediately came back and regained the lead two minutes later when Attie du Plessis scored in the corner after a quick backline move.Thompson added a fine conversion from the touchline to put Suburbs 20-17 in the lead.The final match between United and Wanderers will be a traditional derby between the two teams that have over the years dominated the domestic rugby scene.Additional reporting by Namibia SportThe visitors led 5-8 at the break in a match that also saw George Meyer of Jaguars being red-carded after he kicked an opponent while on the ground.Jaguars team manager Ananias Iyambo said he was not happy with the decision by the referee to give Meyer a red card, since a Harlequins player was not sent off for hitting Elias with his fist.”The referee was inconsistent in his decisions and this is disappointing.Despite that, we are extremely excited that we have qualified for the finals of the first division and we are hoping to make an impact on Saturday,” he said.Jaguars will now meet Grootfontein in a deciding match to be played at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in Windhoek this coming Saturday.Since their re-establishment in 2001, Jaguars have been working their way through to the top league and if they make it, they will find the going tough against the well-established premiership sides.Jaguars official Qualify Mathias says playing in the semi-finals on Saturday was a historic milestone for the club.”This achievement is not only attributed to the current players and administrators, but to all, especially the sponsors, Medscheme, who have played a significant role in bringing the club where it is today,” he said.Mathias, a former forward of the club, said the final this weekend will be “do or die” for the club and he was confident that the players would go all out to make history.Meanwhile, Wanderers – who beat Reho Falcon 29-29 in the premier division at the weekend – will play United in the final next weekend.United beat Western Suburbs 24-20 on Saturday to claim a place in the final of the premiership.Suburbs, who thought that they had wrapped up the game when they led 20-17 with only six minutes to go before the end, were devastated by a marvellous try by Janse van Rensburg, which flyhalf Morne Schreuder converted with ease.United took a first-minute lead when captain Herman Lintvelt burst over from a maul, with Schreuder adding the conversion.United looked stronger in the set pieces, especially the scrums, but Suburbs attacked with their quick backline.In the 18th minute Suburbs scrumhalf Eugene Jantjies kicked a loose ball forward and winger McGrath van Wyk dotted down in the corner.Van Wyk missed the conversion, but Suburbs were now back in the game at 7-5.Schreuder put United further ahead through a penalty, but another McGrath van Wyk try, initiated through a fine pass by Roger Thompson, put the teams on level terms.Just before halftime Suburbs took the lead through a penalty by Van Wyk.United attacked for most of the second half but Suburbs’ defence stood firm.Finally, in the 65th minute United flanker Michael Mackenzie burst over from a maul and with Schreuder adding the conversion, United were now leading 17-13.But Suburbs immediately came back and regained the lead two minutes later when Attie du Plessis scored in the corner after a quick backline move.Thompson added a fine conversion from the touchline to put Suburbs 20-17 in the lead.The final match between United and Wanderers will be a traditional derby between the two teams that have over the years dominated the domestic rugby scene.Additional reporting by Namibia Sport