Kudus, Wanderers, Unam off to winning starts

FNB Kudus, FNB Wanderers, and FNB Unam all got off to winning starts when the inaugural JSB Gold Cup got underway on Saturday.

In Walvis Bay, the defending Premier League champions Kudus went to the top of the log on six points after collecting maximum bonus points in a 43-14 victory against Trustco United.

Kudus scored seven tries with eighthman Ja-Tamson van der Berg scoring two and right wing Ashton Mukwiilongo, centre Tonderai Ndudzo, leftwing Lucio Isaacs, flanker Franco Vries, and prop Cliffy Cowley one each, while flyhalf Michael Koopman added three conversions and fullback Aurelio Plato one.

United could only score two tries by leftwing Jandre Esterhuyzen and eighthman Thehard Lintvelt, with flyhalf DJ Holtzhauzen converting both.

Wanderers also collected maximum bonus points after beating FNB Rehoboth 43-37 at the Wanderers field. It was a tough battle, and they were pushed all the way by Rehoboth, who briefly even led 25-24 early in the second half. 

Wanderers, though, stepped up a gear to go 43-25 ahead before Rehoboth struck back with two late tries. It, however, was not enough as Wanderers held on for the win to go second on the log, behind Kudus on goal difference.

Unam went third on the log on five points after beating FNB Grootfontein 40-35 at home. Unam, who outscored Grootfontein by six tries to five, built up a commanding 33-18 lead by halftime but then had to repel a strong Grootfontein comeback before securing a five-point victory.

Grootfontein took the lead through a penalty by Franklin Busch, but Unam struck back with a try by centre Raschano van Rooi, who ran onto a chip ahead by flyhalf Cejay Coetzee to touch down, and with Coetzee converting they went 7-3 ahead. 

Grootfontein regained the lead at 8-7 after hooker Wicus Jacobs rounded off a forward maul, but Unam immediately struck back when right wing Don Juan Beukes rounded off a swift backline attack.

Unam went 19-8 ahead when scrumhalf Aljarreau Zaahl nipped through for a converted try from a quick tap penalty, but Grootfontein struck back with a drop goal by centre Franklin Busch and then reduced the gap to 19-18 when scrumhalf Dhaamin Bassardien nipped over from a maul with Busch converting.

That’s the closest they got though, as Unam pulled away after two quick tries. Centre Brandon Dentlinger first jinxed his way through from broken play, and then, with Grootfontein on Unam’s tryline, left wing Faustinus Haingure intercepted the ball to run the length of the field to go over for a converted try.

Grootfontein made a strong comeback after the break, reducing the deficit to 33-23 when flyhalf Jahno du Plessis cut through Unam’s defence to touch down, while Wicus Jacobs was just held up after a driving maul to Unam’s tryline. 

The momentum however swung Unam’s way when Grootfontein lock Myles Mudabeti was sin binned and lock Kistings Minyoi burst over from the resulting tap penalty to put Unam 40-23 ahead.

Grootfontein fought back with Jahno du Plessis scoring his second try after breaking through a tackle, while substitute prop Nguvitja Tjaronda went over for a late try, but it was too little too late as Unam held on for the win.

The JSB Silver Cup, meanwhile, also got underway on Saturday with Reho Falcon beating FNB Western Suburbs 48-36, while FNB Dolphins beat the Southern Region XV 31-12.

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