NAMIBIA’s Welwitschias beat the Falcons 66-35 in a thrilling Vodacom Cup match at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Friday night.
The Welwitschias got off to a flyer, scoring three tries within five minutes to race into a 19-0 lead, but the visitors made a determined comeback to reduce the deficit to 26-16 at halftime. They scored a converted try early in the second half to come within three points of the Welwitschias, but that’s the closest they got as the home side stepped up the tempo to run in 10 tries in a scintillating display of attacking rugby.Left wing Heini Bock scored three tries while fullback Chrysander Botha had a haul of 19 points, consisting of a try and seven conversions. The Welwitschias’ other try scorers were Eugene Jantjies, Bradley Langenhoven, Heinz Koll, Llewellyn Winckler, Morné Blom and PJ van Lill, who added a conversion for good measure.For the Falcons, flanker Marco Kotze had a storming game, scoring three tries, while prop forward Jacques George scored 15 points with the boot as well as a try for a personal tally of 20 points. After the Welwitschias’ poor start to the Vodacom Cup campaign, which saw them losing their first three matches, they suddenly came to light with a brilliant performance.The Falcons were coached by former Namibian coach John Williams, but he had no answer as the Welwitschias set the match alight with some great attacking rugby, which saw them scoring their opening three tries in five minutes.Eugene Jantjies opened the scoring when he finished off a fine attack by Heini Bock and three minutes later Heini’s brother Jacky Bock cut through the Falcons’ backline to send Bradley Langenhoven over for a try. From the restart, Llewellyn Winckler launched an attack and when he was brought down PJ van Lill drove forward before lock Heinz Koll crashed over for a try. It was scintillating rugby that had the modest crowd going wild with delight, but the Falcons staged a fine comeback to claw their way back into the game. Marco Kotze scored a try after a fine run by eighth-man Reg Muller, while prop Jacques George added the conversion and a penalty to make the score 19-10. Heini Bock stretched the Welwitschias’ lead with a try after sidestepping his way past two defenders, but two more penalties by George reduced the deficit to 26-16 at halftime.The Falcons immediately went on the attack in the second half and when Kotze went over for his second try, converted by George, they were suddenly just three points behind. But that’s the closest they got as the Welwitschias picked up the tempo.Chrysander Botha scored a great try after joining the back-line at speed while Llewellyn Winckler went over after sustained pressure by the Welwitschias’ forwards. Kotze completed his hat-trick of tries for the Falcons, but Heini Bock went over after being put clear by a long skip pass by Darryl de la Harpe. The Falcons did their best to get back into the match as they camped on the Welwitschias’ try-line and they were finally rewarded when Jacques George went over from a maul. The Welwitschias however had the final say as Heini Bock completed his hattrick, while PJ van Lill stormed over from a 5m penalty. When substitute lock Morné Blom crashed over for a try in injury time, Van Lill capped a great performance by nonchalantly adding the conversion from close to the touchline. The win gives the Welwitschias a lot of confidence ahead of their match against the Pumas next weekend. – www.namibiasport.com.na
