WINDHOEK Afrikaanse Privaat Skool (WAP) won the Momentum u19 Super League title for the first time when they beat Windhoek Gymnasium 26-25 in a thrilling final on Saturday.
Windhoek Gymnasium seemed to be heading towards their fourth title in the past six years when they took a 25-12 lead midway through the second half.
WAP, however, made a stirring comeback and a last minute try by prop Jurgen Leigh Human, converted by wing Keanu Engelbrecht, sent their fans into raptures.
Windhoek Gymnasium opened their account with a penalty by fullback Wiks Tromp and when prop Ethan Thiart barged over for a converted try they went 10-0 ahead.
Tromp and WAP fly half Johan Zaayman traded penalties, but WAP gradually got back into the game with two more Zaayman penalties to trail 13-9 at the break.
A drop goal by Zaayman early in the second half narrowed the gap to 13-12, but Windhoek Gymnasium once again pulled away with a great converted try by Tromp and another try by Thiart to go 25-12 ahead.
WAP, however, refused to give up and gradually got back into the game.
Right wing Louis Karsten finished off a sharp backline movement to go over in the right hand corner and with Engelbrecht adding a fine conversion from the touchline they were 25-19 behind.
WAP continued to bash away at Windhoek Gymnasium’s defence and emotions ran high as Gymnasium prop Ethan Thiart and wing Lyle Beukes were both yellow carded in the final quarter.
WAP’s pressure finally told when prop Human barged over for a try in the final minute and with Engelbrecht adding the conversion they sparked off wild celebrations by their ecstatic fans.
It was the first time that WAP had won the Super League title, and only the second time they had reached the final, after they lost 47-27 to WHS two years ago.
Their coach Johan Zaayman was ecstatic with the win and praised his players on a great performance.
“My guys showed a lot of composure and I’m so proud of them. I didn’t do much I just told them they can do it and they must enjoy the moment, and that’s what they did. Next year we will be in a building phase again, but this win was so important for our school, so I’m very glad that we managed to pull it through,” he said.
The principal of Windhoek Gymnasium, Colleen Rieckert, however, was very unhappy with the result, accusing WAP’s captain Johan Zaayman of swearing at one of her players, while she said that the referee was biased against them.
The rest of the age group final results were as follows:
U19 A: Pro Ed Academy 24 Walvis Bay 10; U19 B Windhoek Gymnasium II 22 Agri College Grootfontein 21; U19 C: Keetmanshoop Private School 46 HTS 1 26; U19 D: MK Gertze 16 Karibib Private School 15; U15 A: Windhoek Gymnasium 23-15 Walvis Bay 15; U15 B: Elnatan 28 Moria Private School 17; U14 A: Windhoek Gymnasium 0 WHS 0; U14 B: Gobabis Gymnasium 20 Dr Lemmer 15; U13 Super: Windhoek Gymnasium 29 Walvis Bay High School 19; U13 A WAP 39 Pro Ed Academy 34; U12: Windhoek Gymnasium 29 Pionierspark 5; U11 A: Tsumeb Gymnasium 17 Pionierspark 10.
