Wanderers Rugby Club produced a scintillating second-half performance to beat unfancied Grootfontein in the Namibia Rugby Premier League match played at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.
The home team scored a try in the opening minute of the game through Warren Ludwig which was converted by Andre van de Berg to take an early 7-0 lead.
With the visitors still regrouping, Wanderers struck again through Nandivatu Karuuombe and Van de Berg converted to make it 14-0 in the 12th minute.
Grootfontein then reduced the arrears in the 20th minute when prop Theron Nelius scored his side’s first try but they failed to convert for a 14-5 scoreline.
Five minutes later John Amutenya scored Grootfontein’s second try which was converted by Dehan Reynders to reduce the arrears to 14-12.
With the halftime approaching, the visitors took a deserved lead when they scored a try through Jacobs Lodewikus to lead by 14-17 at the break.
However, the home team came back strongly in the second half to score a try through Jaques Theron to regain the lead (19-17).
The two teams then exchanged several penalties as the Wanderers scored five of them and the visitors scored only two.
This left the scoreline at 34-23 in favour of the host, but substitute prop Obert Nortje had the final say scoring a last-minute try to make the final score 39-23
Wanderers coach Rohan Kitshoof said: “This is a good victory for us as we beat the log leaders and create a bit of belief for the new young players who are new in the Premier League. The team played to the instructions, especially the second half.”
In other matches which were also played yesterday Rehoboth lost at home to the University of Namibia (UNAM) by a 16-18 scoreline while Kudus continued their early fine form by beating United 19-45 away from home.
Western Suburbs beat Reho Falcon 40-11.
Kudus are now top of the log with 14 points followed by Wanderers in second with 11 points and Grootfontein in third with the same number of points as well.
Suburbs are fourth, followed by UNAM who are fifth, Rehoboth sixth, United seventh and Falcons anchor the log at number eight.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
