Unam remain top, Wanderers close in 

FNB Unam remained at the top of the Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League log after a hard-fought 31-23 win against FNB Kudus on Saturday.

Second-placed FNB Wanderers, however, closed the gap to three points after an emphatic 66-0 victory against Simonis Storm Dolphins at Swakopmund.

FNB Grootfontein, meanwhile, strengthened their chances of making the knockout stages after thumping FNB Western Suburbs 61-7 at home, while FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club kept their semi-final hopes alive with a thrilling 31-30 victory against FNB Reho Falcons at Rehoboth.

At Unam’s PstBet Stadium, the home side had to withstand early pressure from Kudus as Aston Mukwiilongo was tackled into touch after going over in the corner, while Kyle Wentzel missed a penalty.

Aljarreau Zaahl also missed a penalty for Unam, but they took the lead after 10 minutes when AJ Kearns slipped through Kudus’ defence to go over unopposed for a try converted by Zaahl.

Kudus came storming back with an impressive 30-metre driving maul from a lineout, taking them close to Unam’s tryline, and when they won another lineout, hooker Jarred Koning finally went over from a driving maul.

The momentum swung back to Unam, with captain Gerhard Thirion putting in a rampaging run, before Alcino Izaacs sent Berry Gande away for a try.

It was, however, disallowed for an earlier infringement, but Unam were not deterred as they launched another attack with Izaacs cutting through Kudus’ backline to dot down, and with Zaahl once again converting they went 14-5 ahead halfway through the first half.

Kudus showed great character to storm back, and although Wentzel once again missed a penalty, Mukwiilongo went over in the right hand corner after a quick backline attack.

Wentzel’s conversion attempt went wide, but he finally put a penalty over, and with Unam holding a slender 14-13 lead at the break it was still anyone’s game.

That’s the closest they got, though, as Unam steadily pulled away in the second half.

Zaahl put over an early penalty, while Kearns created and rounded off their third and his second try. He sent Zaahl away from a counter-attack, and although Zaahl was tackled just before the line, Kearns was on hand to take the return pass and go over for the try that he once again converted to put Unam 24-13 ahead.

A penalty by Kudus substitute Scott Winborn reduced the deficit to 24-16, but the ever-present Gilad Plaatjies broke through Kudus’ defence to send Izaacs away for his second try, and with Zaahl once again converting they went 31-16 ahead.

Kudus struck back with a try by Suramie Kambombo after a strong run by Cameron Langenhoven in the closing stages, but by then Unam had already sealed the match.

The win put Unam on 66 points at the top of the log, but Wanderers moved to within three points of them after beating Dolphins 66-0 at the coast.

Wanderers, who led 33-0 at half-time, scored 10 tries in total with ther wings Nandi Karuuombe and Natie Janse van Rensburg scoring two tries each, and Jurgen Meyer, Jonathan Hanekom, Reben Botha, Johan Meyer and Dandre Schreuder one try each.

Flyhalf Denzo Bruwer also scored a try and five conversions for a personal tally of 15 points, while utility back DJ Holtzhausen added three conversions.

Grootfontein, meanwhile, took pole position in the race for the fourth and final semi-final spot with a comprehensive 61-7 home victory against Suburbs.

Grootfontein scored nine tries through Jahzeel Marais (two), Johannes Breedt (two), Alfred Vercuil, Johan Luttig, Olivier Mouton, Jurgens Liebenberg and Uroel Marais, who added eight conversions for a personal tally of 21 points.

Grootfontein (39 points) have now moved six points clear of Falcons, who suffered a narrow 31-30 defeat to cross-town rivals Rehoboth.

Miquel Busch scored 21 points for Rehoboth through two tries, three penalties and aconversion, while Corburn Claassen and Edward Drotsky scored one try each.

Falcons scored three tries through Keynnen Basson, Jerome Schumann and Tony Isaacs, while Enrique Husselmann converted all three and added three more penalties for a personal tally of 15 points.

Rehoboth, who are now seventh on 30 points, sixth-placed Trustco United on 32 points, and fifth-placed Falcons on 33 all have a match in hand on Grootfontein, ensuring that the semi-final battle will go down to the wire.