THE Welwitschias recorded their first victory in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge in stunning style with a 34-24 win against the Hino Valke at Kempton Park on Saturday.
After suffering a 39-7 home defeat to the same opponents a month ago no one had given them a chance of winning away, but the Welwitschias dug deep and responded with a brilliant performance.
In a close encounter, the Welwitschias took a 13-10 lead at halftime and stretched their lead to 10 points before the Valke narrowed the gap to 27-24 with 10 minutes to go.
The Welwitschias, however, held their nerve, scoring a late try to complete a deserved victory.
Both team scored four tries, but the accurate goal kicking by Welwitschias fly
Half PW Steenkamp was the difference as he landed all four conversions and two penalties.
“Im absolutely delighted with the victory and the progress the team has shown over the past 12 months,” Welwitschias coach Lyn Jones said when contacted for comment.
“A year ago we were still losing by cricket scores, but today they showed lots of character with a great performance that all Namibians should be proud of,” he said.
The Welwitschias took an early lead through a try by scrum half JC Winckler, converted by Steenkamp, but the Valke struck back through an unconverted try by Andrew van Wyk to narrow the deficit to 7-5.
The Valke went 10-7 ahead through a try by Sikhumbuzo Mabuza, but two penalties by Steenkamp saw the Welwitschias regaining the lead to go 13-10 ahead at half time.
The Valke regained the lead early in the second half with a try by Martin Sithole, converted by Andre du Plessis, to go 17-13 ahead, but the Welwitschias struck back with a vengeance.
PW Steenkamp first scored a fine solo try after side-stepping his way over from a scrum, before Johann Tromp scored a fine try, which included several build-up phases and saw Rohan Kitshoff and JC Greyling combining well, to put Tromp away on a 30m run to the try line.
The Valke struck back with a converted try by Marco Klopper, but the Welwitschias had the final say with winger Janry du Toit finishing off a multi-phase movement with a converted try.
Jones said Namibia’s fine performance in the loose and at the breakdown made the difference in a tight match.
“It was a tight game, but we were superior at the breakdown where Kitshoff, (Thomasau) Forbes and (Casper) Viviers were superb,” he said, adding that the victory would give them a lot of confidence for the rest of their campaign.
“I’m just delighted and this win will give the boys a lot of confidence. They understand that all the hard work and the coaching does work and it shows that we are catching up and closing the gap,” he said.
The Welwitschias are still at the bottom of the Northern log on six points, with the Valke just above them on seven points.
The iCollege Pumas, meanwhile, continued their superb season with their fifth consecutive victory, beating the Blue Bulls 34-22 in Pretoria, to remain on top of the log on 24 points.
The Bulls are second on 16, while the Golden Lions, who have a match in hand, are third on 12 points.
