REHOBOTH Rugby Club were the big movers in the weekend’s MTC Rugby Premier League action, moving up three places on the log after thrashing Jaguars 90-20 in Windhoek.
Jaguars were reasonably competitive in the first half and went into the break at 24-9 down, but the sluice gates opened in the second half as Rehoboth ran amok.Jaguars’ defence fell to pieces as Rehoboth ran in tries with embarrassing ease and eventually scored 14 tries to collect two bonus points. The result saw them moving up to third place on the log, and in with a good chance of making the semi-finals.Rehoboth fullback Desmond Snyders had a great match, scoring four tries as he regularly outpaced the defence with his swift incursions into the backline.Right wing Chase Diergaardt also impressed, scoring 22 points with two tries and six conversions, while centre David Philander also scored a brace and two conversions for a haul of 14 points.Rehoboth’s other try scorers were Nathan van Wyk, Huscit Visagie, Marshall Mouton, Serge Loock, Eugene Forbes and Jacky Mouton.Jaguars flyhalf Elvis Elias scored all their points with a try and five penalties.The six points that Rehoboth collected from the match saw them moving up from sixth to third position on the log on 37 points, and well in the mix for a semi-final spot. The weekend’s big losers were Western Suburbs, who lost 25-13 to Reho Falcon in Rehoboth.Falcon took the lead through a try by left wing Lloyd van Wyk, converted by Jacky Bock, but two penalties by McGrath van Wyk brought Suburbs back into the reckoning with the score at 7-6. A penalty by Howard Titus gave Reho Falcon a 10-6 lead at halftime.Reho Falcon turned on the pace in the second half and went 15-6 ahead after a fine try by flyhalf Attie du Plessis, who caught Suburbs’ backline flatfooted with a fine break. Titus added the conversion to stretch their lead to 17-6.Centre Jacky Bock scored next after a fine run by wing Melrick Africa and when Titus added a penalty Falcon had taken an unassailable 25-6 lead.Suburbs scored a late consolation try by McGrath van Wyk, which he also converted but by then it was too late as Falcon held on for victory.The result sees Reho Falcon moving up to second position on 38 points, while Suburbs drop two places down to fourth on 37 points.In Walvis Bay Kudus shocked log leaders United with a hard fought 12-10 victory. Kudus took a 12-5 lead at halftime after tries by Grant Nash and Ashley Platt, with Chrysander Botha adding a conversion, while Riaan Vermaak scored a try for United.United eighthman Pat Kotze scored a try in the second half to bring them within touching distance of victory, but their poor kicking contributed to their downfall. Between Winmar Rust and Robert Herridge, United forfeited 19 points with missed kicks, and Kudus held on for a narrow victory. Despite the defeat, United remain at the top of the log on 49 points, while Kudus are in sixth position on 36 points.On Friday evening, Wanderers beat Unam 22-9 to move up to 36 points and one place down to fifth position on the log. With most teams having just one match remaining, only United are assured of a semi-final spot. The other three places are still wide open with Reho Falcon (38), Rehoboth (37), Western Suburbs (37), Wanderers (36) and Kudus (36) all in the running.- www.namibiasport.com.na
