FNB Wanderers went to the top of the Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League for the first time, deposing FNB Unam who suffered their first defeat of the season in Round 8 action of the Windhoek Lager Rugby Premier League on Saturday.
At the Wanderers field in Pionierspark, Wanderers ground out a 38-28 victory over FNB Grootfontein after leading 19-13 at halftime
Wanderers hooker Darius von Solms opened the scoring with a try converted by Andre van der Berg, and although Grootfontein opened their account with a penalty by fullback Siegfried Potgieter, a great counter-attacking try by left wing Jurgen Meyer, converted by Van der Berg, put Wanderers 14-3 ahead.
Wanderers lock Sheron Rossouw rounded off a backline attack to put them 19-6 ahead, but Grootfontein struck back with a try by centre Niel Holtzhausen and with a 19-13 deficit at halftime they were right back in the match.
Grootfontein came back strongly after the break, and they took the lead for the first time when flyhalf Dhaamin Bassardien touched down after a fine dummy and with Potgieter adding the conversion they went 20-19 ahead.
Wanderers, however, soon regained the lead when Ignus Tripodi barged over from a maul for a converted try, and when centre Nandi Karuuombe turned on the pace to cut through Grootfontein’s backline for a try they went 33-20 ahead.
Grootfontein’s discipline also let them down as flanker James Hinga and centre Jahzeel Marais were both yellow carded, and right wing Bredell Wessels sealed Wanderers’ victory when he went over in the corner after a fine counter-attack initiated by Van der Berg.
Grootfontein managed to score a late consolation try by Marais, but it was not enough as Wanderers held on for a 38-28 victory.
The win put Wanderers at the top of the log for the first time this season after former leaders Unam suffered a shock 21-17 defeat to Falcons at Rehoboth.
Unam outscored Falcons by three tries to two, with eighthman Handre Bezuidenhout, hooker Gerhard Thirion and substitute back Diego Loubser touching down, but their kicking let them down as substitute flyhalf Johnny Mwenyo could only convert one.
Falcons’ try scorers were left wing Daniel Bezuidenhout and flanker Keynnen Basson, while centre Franklinn Busch added one conversion and three penalties for a personal tally of 11 points.
Wanderers now lead Unam on points aggregate at the top of the log with both teams on 38 points, while Falcons move up to fourth place on 24 points, and Grootfontein drop down to fifth on 23 points.
Wanderers and Unam have now opened up a big gap on the rest of the field, with FNB Kudus now lying third on 27 points, after suffering a narrow 24-23 defeat to FNB Western Suburbs at Suburbs Park.
Right wing Ironga Atshivudhi scored two tries for Kudus and left wing Lucio Isaacs and hooker Jarren Koning one each, while substitute flyhalf Kyle Wentzel added one penalty.
Suburbs scored three tries through right wing Jayden Links, flanker Dhale Cloete and prop Elliot Lombaardt, while flyhalf Rudy Pretorius added three conversions and a penalty.
Despite the win, Suburbs remain second last on the log on 12 points.
Trustco United, meanwhile, moved up to sixth position on 20 points after beating FNB Rehoboth 39-21 at the United field in Olympia.
United scored five tries with centre and captain JD Nel scoring two, and scrumhalf Jahno du Plessis, and substitute backs Rudi Pieters and Henry Kandjou one each, while fullback Ricardo Swartz added four conversions and two penalties for a personal tally of 14 points.
Rehoboth scored three tries through right wing Dolano Vries, substitute forward Charl Freygand and centre Henrique Olivier, who added two penalties for a personal tally of 11 points.
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