United consolidate lead

UNITED underlined their title credentials with an emphatic 29-10 victory against defending champions Western Suburbs at Suburbs Park on Saturday.

After an even first half, United stepped up the tempo after the break to eventually run in a total of five tries. This gave them an extra bonus point which saw them moving up to 42 points at the top of the log – now eight points clear of Suburbs who remain second. After an even first half in which both sides’ defences held sway, United took the lead shortly before the break when flanker Herman Lintvelt crashed over from a quick tap penalty. Winmar Rust missed the conversion, the first of three consecutive misses, but United soon increased their lead after the restart when winger Giovanni Tripodi followed up a kick ahead that bounced awkwardly for Suburbs’ defence, to dot the ball down.Suburbs opened their account with a try by flanker Desmond Haihambo, converted by Justin Nel, but United went further ahead when scrumhalf Riaan Vermeulen darted over from a scrum close to Suburbs’ line. With time running out Suburbs tried to attack from within their own 25m line, but United centre Du Preez Grobler pounced onto a poor pass to send winger Robert Herridge away for a try. Herridge took over the kicking duties and duly converted his try. United laid on the pressure in the final minutes and Grobler went over for their fifth try when he cut through the backline after several phases of attacks. Herridge once again converted to give United a 29-10 victory.At the Wanderers ground, the home side were pushed all the way by Reho Falcon before emerging 28-27 victors. Falcon, in fact, could have won the match after replacement back Lariano van Wyk brought them to within a point of victory with a try five minutes into injury time, but Melrick Africa missed the conversion, much to Wanderers’ relief. In a match of swaying fortunes, Mahco Prinsloo and Jackey Bock traded early penalties before Wanderers prop Johnny Redelinghuys went over after sustained pressure by Wanderers’ forwards. Falcon however fought back strongly and flyhalf Attie du Plessis went over for a try after a fine run by eighthman Wilbur Izaacs. Bock added the conversion as Falcon took the lead for the first time. Barely two minutes later they went further ahead when wing Deon Mouton broke down the right wing and cut inside to pass to prop Lloyd Busch who showed a fine turn of speed to score the try. Bock missed the conversion but Falcon were now leading 15-8 at the break.Wanderers immediately stormed back from the second half kick-off when prop Schalk Bergh went over for a try converted by Prinsloo to tie the score at 15-all.They regained the lead when lock Heino Senekal crashed over for a try, converted by Prinsloo. Another Prinsloo penalty stretched Wanderers’ lead to 25-15 but Falcon struck back through a fine try by Deon Mouton after being put clear by Jackey Bock. With Bock adding the conversion, Falcon were now only three points behind.Another Prinsloo penalty put Wanderers 28-22 ahead but with the match running deep into injury time, Falcon once again struck back with a fine counter-attacking try by substitute Lariano van Wyk. With Falcon trailing by a single point they needed to put the conversion over to win the match, but inexplicably winger Melrick Africa took the kick instead of Jackey Bock who had been quite consistent for most of the match. Africa’s kick went narrowly wide as Wanderers held on for a 28-27 victory.- Namibia Sport