Unam, Grootfontein set the pace  – Sport

FNB Unam and FNB Grootfontein continued to set the pace in the Namibian Rugby Premier League as they both recorded their third successive victories on Saturday.

At theTamariskia field in Swakopmund, Unam comfortably beat the league’s newcomers Dolphin 46-0, scoring eight tries in the process.

Rightwing Quirione Majiedt led the way with a hattrick of tries, while left wing Shareave Titus, centre Alcino Izaacs, eightman Handre Bezuidenhout, prop Graham April and substitute back Don Juan Beukes also dotted down. 

Fyhalf Raschano van Rooi could only succeed with three of the conversions.

That saw Unam maintaining their unbeaten run and put them at the top of the log on 16 points after three matches – two ahead of Grootfontein, who also recorded their third successive victory after beating FNB Rehoboth 17-8 at Grootfontein. 

In a tough encounter, Grootfontein prevailed 16-8, with left wing Lasarus Joseph and prop Bernd Beddies scoring tries, while fullback Alfred Vercuil added two penalties. Rehoboth replied with a try by hooker Jeandre Cloete and a penalty by scrumhalf Miquel Busch. 

Wanderers, meanwhile, moved up to third position on 10 points after easing to a 44-7 victory against FNB Western Suburbs at Suburbs Park.

In a hard-fought encounter that left several players injured on both sides, Wanderers took a while to break Suburbs’ resistance down.

Flyhalf Andre van der Berg succeeded with two penalties, while a converted try by right wing Nandivatu Karuuombe after a quick backline attack two minutes before the break gave them a 13-0 halftime lead. 

Suburbs struck back just after the restart with a try by lock Uvatera Kaverua, converted by flyhalf Neels Nushan, but Wanderers gradually pulled away, with Van der Berg and national captain Johan Deysel playing starring roles.  

Deysel, who has returned to Namibia after playing for French club Colomiers,  initiated their next try, kicking a loose ball ahead, following up to scoop the ball up, and send centre Natie Janse van Rensburg away to go over behind the posts. 

Van der Berg converted and added a penalty before going over unopposed for a try after a great break left the Suburbs’ defence flatfooted. 

Two more tries by Deysel in the final stages – the first after a fine break by Romario van Wyk, and the second after a flowing backline movement, gave them a comfortable bonus point victory. 

FNB Kudus also moved up to 10 points, in fourth position behind Wanderers on points aggregate, after beating Trustco United 17-8 at the Jan Wilken Stadium at Walvis Bay. 

For Kudus eighthman Joshua Jacobs scored a try and flyhalf Aurelio Plato added four penalties, while Hanreco van Zyl scored a try for United, with centre Ricardo Swartz adding a penalty. It was United’s third successive defeat which leaves the defending champions trailing in seventh position on the log on two points, and they will need to pick up their game if they hope to retain the title.