Wanderers earn hard-fought win at Unam
The student team suffered a rare loss at their fortress stadium.
ANDREW POOLMAN
Log leaders FNB University of Namibia surrendered their unbeaten run during this NRU premier league season on Saturday, narrowly going down 25-27 against a determined FNB Wanderers at the Unam Stadium.
With the league resuming after three months of a nationwide ban on contact sports, Wanderers greatly benefitted from a return to action for national team players such as hooker Obert Nortje (added since joining during the off-season of the USA’s Major League Rugby), left wing JC Greyling, flank Thomasau Forbes and Darryl de la Harpe.
Nortje and Greyling both scored tries and looked in excellent form, while De la Harpe and Forbes were used sparingly off the bench in the final minutes by Wanderers coach Rohan Kitshoff.
Despite the loss, Unam still hold on to their top position on the log with one round of matches to go before the semi-finals, although their lead over second-placed FNB Western Suburbs has shrunk to just two points.
Wanderers moved up one position to third, aided by their bonus point for scoring tries through JC Greyling, centre Bernie Hugo, Obert Nortje, fullback Warren Ludwig and scrumhalf Jacques Theron.
Unam launched a great comeback from 3-17 down with two quick tries by centre Alcino Izaacs and flyhalf Delron Brandt to level the halftime score at 17-17. The students added one more try by replacement lock Enzio Kotzee as they gave away an easy late try to Theron and fell short by two points.
• Elsewhere, FNB Western Suburbs scored five tries against four to secure a hard-earned 35-32 home win against the resurgent FNB Reho Falcon. The Khomasdal team’s Justin Nel maintained his great kicking form lately, landing each of his five conversion attempts.
• FNB Grootfontein dropped out of the top four positions when they lost 14-31 to FNB Rehoboth in a hard-fought battle in Rehoboth. The home side added a bonus point scoring four tries, while restricting the visitors to only two tries.
• In the bottom of the log clash at Walvis Bay, FNB Kudus won 28-15 against the struggling Trustco United.
Log leaders FNB University of Namibia surrendered their unbeaten run during this NRU premier league season on Saturday, narrowly going down 25-27 against a determined FNB Wanderers at the Unam Stadium.
With the league resuming after three months of a nationwide ban on contact sports, Wanderers greatly benefitted from a return to action for national team players such as hooker Obert Nortje (added since joining during the off-season of the USA’s Major League Rugby), left wing JC Greyling, flank Thomasau Forbes and Darryl de la Harpe.
Nortje and Greyling both scored tries and looked in excellent form, while De la Harpe and Forbes were used sparingly off the bench in the final minutes by Wanderers coach Rohan Kitshoff.
Despite the loss, Unam still hold on to their top position on the log with one round of matches to go before the semi-finals, although their lead over second-placed FNB Western Suburbs has shrunk to just two points.
Wanderers moved up one position to third, aided by their bonus point for scoring tries through JC Greyling, centre Bernie Hugo, Obert Nortje, fullback Warren Ludwig and scrumhalf Jacques Theron.
Unam launched a great comeback from 3-17 down with two quick tries by centre Alcino Izaacs and flyhalf Delron Brandt to level the halftime score at 17-17. The students added one more try by replacement lock Enzio Kotzee as they gave away an easy late try to Theron and fell short by two points.
• Elsewhere, FNB Western Suburbs scored five tries against four to secure a hard-earned 35-32 home win against the resurgent FNB Reho Falcon. The Khomasdal team’s Justin Nel maintained his great kicking form lately, landing each of his five conversion attempts.
• FNB Grootfontein dropped out of the top four positions when they lost 14-31 to FNB Rehoboth in a hard-fought battle in Rehoboth. The home side added a bonus point scoring four tries, while restricting the visitors to only two tries.
• In the bottom of the log clash at Walvis Bay, FNB Kudus won 28-15 against the struggling Trustco United.
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