REHOBOTH Rugby Club managed to effectively suffocate a rampant United side by posting a handsome 26-19 score to clinch the domestic premiership rugby title at Suburbspark in Khomasdal on Saturday.
The youthful red-and-black outfit scooped the title despite United going into the match as red-hot favourites at a packed stadium.The encounter produced a lot of spark throughout and kept the enthusiastic crowd on the edges of their seats and on the back of their bakkies, while the ones who lined up next to the touchline were sufficiently entertained as they were almost part of the action.The Rehoboth side did not have a lot of opportunities in the first half, but managed to turn the screws against United in the first half with their youthful backline doing plenty of defending, while they also charged fearlessly into the tackles of their more bulky opponents.The multi-talented Desmond Snyders, playing as full-back for Rehoboth, made crucial runs into gaps that provided the centre pair of Graham van Wyk and David Philander trying to break over the advantage line on several occasions.United led 12-7 at halftime through tries by their lock Morné Blom and fullback Robert Herridge.Snyders opened the scoring for his side in the first half, before flank Husceit Visagie stormed over to record the second before the break.Both sides upped the tempo in the second half with their backlines doing most of running, resulting in more tries.This time, Rehoboth’s flyhalf dived over the score line before his centre Philander also crossed to increase their lead.United fought back bravely with their scrumhalf Jurie van Tonder trying to feed his backline as quickly as he could to get over the advantage line, but the Rehoboth defence stood tall with some outstanding tackles in the last quarter of the match.The persistence of United to get over the try-line paid off through a drive that saw their frontman Jaco Swanepoel barging over.For Rehoboth, Chase Diergaardt put through three conversions, while Winmar Rust did the kicking duties for United, who were surprisingly brought down to earth by rather talented Rehoboth side.The experience of United players such as centre Du Preez Grobler, wing Tinus Venter, Michael McKenzie among the pack and feeder van Tonder did not do deter a determined Rehoboth side which was spurred on by a huge crowd mostly clad in red.In the first division, Mariental beat Rehoboth’s second side 35-5 to take the title in that category in a match that preceded the main final.corry@namibian.com.na
