Windhoek Gymnasium and Elnatan progressed to the Under 19 Super League final of the Momentum Schools Rugby Board Trophy after winning their semifinal matches over the weekend.
The two teams won their semifinals in contrasting fashions. Windhoek Gymnasium beat Tsumeb 16-13 in a close encounter on Friday night, but Elnatan were always on top and comfortably beat Walvis Bay 35-12 on Saturday.
It will be the second successive year that Elnatan reach the final after they lost 40-6 to WHS last year, although they did win the trophy in 2006 for the first time in their history.
Windhoek Gymnasium have not won the trophy yet and last reached the final two years ago when they were beaten 31-19 by WHS.
Friday’s encounter was a close affair with the two sides weighing up evenly.
Tsumeb Gymnasium took a 6-3 lead at halftime after two penalties by their scrum half Jan Harm Cronje, while Windhoek Gymnasium’s flyhalf Henrique Olivier replied with one penalty.
Windhoek Gymnasium took the lead for the first time through a try by wing Milaan van Wyk and when lock Wesley Mapewa went over for a second try they went 13-6 ahead.
Tsumeb struck back with a converted try after a forward charge in the final minutes but it was not enough as Windhoek Gymnasium held on for the win.
On Saturday, Elnatan were just too strong for a game Walvis Bay.
Elnatan took the lead through a try by flanker Francois van der Merwe converted by fullback PW Steenkamp after 13 minutes.
Left wing Adriaan Janse van Rensburg wasted a great chance when he knocked on with the try line beckoning, but soon made up for that when he touched down after a fine break by centre Janry du Toit.
Elnatan continued to batter away at Walvis Bay’s defence and on the stroke of halftime went 19-0 ahead after a fine try by centre Du Toit who cut through the back line to dot down behind the posts.
In the second half, PW Steenkamp added an early penalty before hooker Jandre van Wyk went over for a try after a driving maul by Elnatan’s forwards. With Steenkamp adding the conversion they went 32-0 ahead.
Walvis Bay however made a strong comeback and opened their account through a try by flanker Cameron Langenhoven midway through the second half.
Substitute flyhalf Chad Plato missed the conversion but Walvis Bay continued to attack and scored a second try through fullback Elton de Smidt, converted by Plato, to reduce the gap to 32-12.
Elnatan however had the final saw when Steenkamp put over a penalty in injury time to give them a 35-12 victory.
In the U19 A semifinals, Windhoek High School beat HTS 30-12, while Dr Lemmer beat Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaat Skool 22-19.
In the U19 B semifinals, WHS II beat Jan Mohr I 30-14, while Windhoek Gymnasium II beat Etosha 75-0.
In the U19 C semifinals, Dr Lemmer II beat Rehoboth 17-14, while Walvis Bay II beat Pro-Ed Academy 27-19.
In the U19 D semifinals, Windhoek Gymnasium III beat Dr Lemmer III 32-19 and HTS III beat Keetmanshoop II 50-12.
In the U15 A semifinals, WHS and Windhoek Gymnasium progressed to the final after both scored big victories.
WHS beat Elnatan 57-3 and Windhoek Gymnasium beat Walvis Bay 51-6.
In the U15 B semifinals, Dr Lemmer beat Windhoek Gymnasium B 27-22 and WHS B beat Oshakati Rugby 46-12.
In the U14 A semifinals, Windhoek Gymnasium beat WAP 20-17 and WHS beat Otjis Rugby 19-5, and in the U14 B semifinals, Elnatan beat Mariental 27-12, while Walvis Bay beat MK Gertze 29-10.
