Windhoek Gym, WHS share the spoils

Windhoek Gymnasium and Windhoek High School had to settle for a share of the spoils after their Standard Bank u19 Super League Rugby final ended in a 34-34 draw on Saturday. 

It was quite an anticlimax to a great contest, that saw Windhoek Gymnasium overcoming a 24-15 halftime deficit, despite being a man down for three quarters of the match. 

WHS started stronger, taking the lead through a Davito van Wyk penalty, and when centre Sammy Soobramoney cut through the backline for a converted try they went 10-0 ahead.

JW Visagie opened Gymnasium’s account with a penalty, but WHS soon stretched their lead to 17-3 with a penalty try, while Gymnasium suffered a futher blow when scrumhalf Denver Beukes was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for foul play. 

Gymnasium struck back with a try by flanker Zack von Wielligh, going over from a driving maul, but WHS extended their lead to 24-10 when prop Joshua Bester crashed over for a try converted by Van Wyk.

Gymnasium, however, showed great resilience as they inched their way back into the contest.

Captain Janneman Brand crashed over for a try after a great driving maul by their forwards, and when rightwing Suramie Qhena-Kambombo went over for a converted try after a quick tap penalty, they were right back in contention, having reduced the deficit to 24-22. 

The momentum had swung and Gymnasium went ahead for the first time when Von Wielligh sent centre Stefan Gildenhuys away for a great try, breaking through two tackles before diving over.

The industrious Von Wielligh added his second try soon after, going over from a maul to put Gymnasium 34-24 ahead, but WHS struck back to ensure a thrilling finish. 

Van Wyk put over a penalty, while leftwing Jurgen Meyer started and finished off a counter-attack with a try, and with Van Wyk adding the conversion, the two sides had to be content with a 34-34 draw. 

The trophy will now be shared between the two teams, with WHS keeping it for the first six months and Gymnasium for the next six months.

The results of the other age group finals were as follows:

U14 A: Windhoek Gym u14 A 12-8 WHS u14 A 

U14 B: Roots Gymnasium 26-21 WHS u14 B

U15 A: Windhoek Gym u15 A 13-11 WHS u15 A

U15 B: Tsumeb Gim 22-15 Keetmanshoop Private School

U19 A: Elnatan I 36-36 Moria I

U19 B: Windhoek Gym II 28-25 M&K Gertze I 

U19 C: HTS I 38-17 Keetmanshoop Private School I 

U19 D: WHS II 43-39 M&K Gertze II 

U19 Super Plate: WAP 20-17 Pro Ed Academy.

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