Kudus shut out Unam in Gold Cup clash

FNB Kudus’ first team overpowered FNB Unam 32-0 in their JSB Gold Cup club rugby fixture at Jan Wilken Stadium in Walvis Bay on Saturday, maintaining their dominance as NRU Premier League champions in the elite top-six competition. Kudus led 20-0 at half-time before closing out the match with a clean sheet against the visiting side.The home team started strongly in the first half, with speed and physicality that Unam struggled to contain. Unam tightened up in the second half, slowing Kudus’ scoring momentum, but errors in decision-making still kept them off the board. Instead of taking penalty kicks on offer, Unam repeatedly opted to run the ball or set up lineout mauls – opportunities their captain later admitted they should have converted into points.Kudus scored five tries – converted by fullback Aston Mukwiilongo, fly-half Michael Koopman, scrumhalf Rayton Paulse, his replacement Zane Williams and flank Alexander Jansen. Koopman (one conversion, one penalty) and Aurelio Plato (one conversion) could have scored more off the kicking tee.Kudus captain PJ Walters acknowledged that Unam managed to disrupt some of their plans. “At times we were very over-eager and we also fielded new combinations, and that caused some errors,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we achieves what we wanted to do, and I am glad the boys went out and enjoyed themselves.”While Unam was disrupted by a number of withdrawals even at a late stage, captain Rowan Jansen gave credit to Kudus, while also reflecting on his team’s decision-making. "Kudus deserved the result today. We’re just grateful for the opportunity to play in such great weather. “We were going for tries when offered penalties. At the end of the day, it didn’t work out, but we believed we could do it.”Despite the scoreline, Jansen said his youthful side will continue building. “If we’re continue fighting game by game, and we’re going to work on ourselves and grow, then I reckon we’ll be in a good position again in the future.”The JSB Gold Cup brings together the top six teams from the Namibia Rugby Union’s Premier League, with Kudus entering the competition as reigning champions.Grootfontein makes more historyFNB Grootfontein celebrated their first win against FNB Wanderers since the northern team stepped up to the premier league in 2021.Hooker Wikus Jacobs’ team took their opportunities to take a 44-36 win on their home field on Saturday – which now puts them in first position.Up to 17-17, the teams were level, before Grootfontein pulled away to 36-17 and 39-22.For Wanderers, wing Nandivatu Karuuombe scored twice, with one try each by centre SW Kuhn and locks Wickus Cowley and Roche Janzen van Vuuren. Kuhn landed four conversions and a penalty.However, Grootfontein were not to be denied, as Jacobs, lock Oliver Mouton (2), nr 8 Johan Luttig, fullback Lorenzo Louis, centre Ryan Coetzee and wing Keno Shetukana scored tries. There were also conversions by Louis (1) and fly-half Franklin Busch (2), who added one penalty.United runs up ten triesA win against FNB Rehoboth was the best possible medicine for Trustco United after their disappointment the previous weekend against Unam, when they ended up on the losing side from a 22-0 advantage, says coach Herman Lintvelt.United's first team captain JD Nel got married on Saturday and some of his teammates were also absent as wedding guests. Nevertheless Lintvelt was impressed by the youngsters that stepped up against Rehoboth, taking a 28-7 lead at halftime on their way to a run-away 60-33 win.“We knew Rehoboth would a tough competitor with their speeds and skill in open play. We managed to increase the pace in the second half which yielded results,” says Lintvelt.“It’s been tough after the long break before the second round started, but we should be back to near full strength soon. We intend finishing our remaining two matches well, against Wanderers and Grootfontein.”Left wing Manfred Garoeb stood out for Rehoboth with three tries, alongside one each by centres Keathan Freygang and Miquel Busch, who also landed four out of five conversions.On United list of try-scorers were wings Soobramoney Sammy (2) and Brandon Besser, centre Keanan Januarie, halfbacks Enrique Husselmann and Elzandro van Wyk, flank Thehard Lintvelt (2), prop Johan Brockman and replacement back Joshua Moller. Husselman converted five of the tries.

Kudus shut out Unam in Gold Cup clash

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