Wanderers buries Rehoboth’s 2022 final hopes
Tricky weather conditions
Wanderers scored four tries to two and held the lead throughout in a match of high intensity, but could rarely shake off the resilient challenge of the visitors, who had finished the league season in fourth position.
FNB Wanderers survived a tense home semi-final 31-29 against FNB Rehoboth on Saturday to book their place in the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) Premier League final.
Head coach Rohan Kitshoff’s men will take on FNB Unam on 3 September at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
Wanderers scored four tries to two and held the lead throughout in a match of high intensity, but could rarely shake off the resilient challenge of the visitors, who had finished the league season in fourth position.
Very tricky conditions with gusting winds across the field made life difficult for the kickers, especially in their judgement during the early exchanges where both Wanderers' flyhalf André van der Berg and fullback Denzo Bruwer conceded field positions by kicking out on the full.
Rehoboth flyhalf Cliven Loubser missed an early penalty before Wanderers, who finished as log leaders - and was the only side to add league points even in each of their losing matches this season - took the lead after 15 minutes.
An attacking lineout maul resulted in another penalty tap, from which hooker Obert Nortje burst over the line.
Determined effort
Van der Berg missed the conversion and then exchanged penalties with Rehoboth scrumhalf Miquel Busch (Wanderers 8-3 Rehoboth).
An elusive individual break by Van der Berg off an advancing lineout drive sent him through for a try under the posts after 26 minutes, which he also converted.
Less than ten minutes later, his Rehoboth counterpart Cliven Loubser replied with a similarly twinkle-toed break for a converted try.
Loubser then added a penalty (15-13), as the Rooi Bulle ended the half with a determined defensive effort that withstood a period of great Wanderers pressure on their goalline.
Two penalties by Van der Berg and two by Busch pushed the score to 21-19, before arguably the biggest turning point in the match (64 minutes).
Rehoboth attempted a wide attack off a scrum feed on their own goalline, which backfired when centre Keathan Freygang lost possession in a tackle. His opponent, Louis Meyer, with his first touch after being sent on to replace Wanderers captain Christo van der Merwe, offloaded to outside centre Nico Maartens for the try, which went unconverted.
Busch shrunk the deficit with a penalty, but Rehoboth again conceded a try straight from the kick-off, as Wanderers won a turnover and worked themselves into position for scrumhalf Jacques Theron to pick up and go straight through under the posts for a try which Van der Berg strangely failed to convert (31-22).
Motivated by a boisterous group of supporters, Rehoboth finished strong – aided by a 73rd-minute yellow card to Wanderers' wing Nandivatu Karuuombe for a high tackle. The Rooi Bulle attack was finally rewarded with Loubser receiving a long pass on the left-hand touchline and finding his way over for a try in the corner, which Busch converted.
Intriguing final
Wanderers, however, managed to hold on to their slender two-point lead as they booked their place against Unam, for an intriguing final on 3 September.
Wanderers (last champions in 2018, beating United) and Unam (last champions in 2017) also won their semi-finals last season, but the season was derailed by accusations against both clubs of using ineligible players.
Although Unam beat FNB Western Suburbs in the “final”, both finalists were also found guilty of using players without valid clearance documents from their previous clubs and the 2022 season was subsequently declared null and void.
• Wanderers II dominated Unam II 28-6 in the Reserve League semi-final and will contest the final on 3 September against Rehoboth II (winners by 22-7 against Kudus II).
Head coach Rohan Kitshoff’s men will take on FNB Unam on 3 September at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
Wanderers scored four tries to two and held the lead throughout in a match of high intensity, but could rarely shake off the resilient challenge of the visitors, who had finished the league season in fourth position.
Very tricky conditions with gusting winds across the field made life difficult for the kickers, especially in their judgement during the early exchanges where both Wanderers' flyhalf André van der Berg and fullback Denzo Bruwer conceded field positions by kicking out on the full.
Rehoboth flyhalf Cliven Loubser missed an early penalty before Wanderers, who finished as log leaders - and was the only side to add league points even in each of their losing matches this season - took the lead after 15 minutes.
An attacking lineout maul resulted in another penalty tap, from which hooker Obert Nortje burst over the line.
Determined effort
Van der Berg missed the conversion and then exchanged penalties with Rehoboth scrumhalf Miquel Busch (Wanderers 8-3 Rehoboth).
An elusive individual break by Van der Berg off an advancing lineout drive sent him through for a try under the posts after 26 minutes, which he also converted.
Less than ten minutes later, his Rehoboth counterpart Cliven Loubser replied with a similarly twinkle-toed break for a converted try.
Loubser then added a penalty (15-13), as the Rooi Bulle ended the half with a determined defensive effort that withstood a period of great Wanderers pressure on their goalline.
Two penalties by Van der Berg and two by Busch pushed the score to 21-19, before arguably the biggest turning point in the match (64 minutes).
Rehoboth attempted a wide attack off a scrum feed on their own goalline, which backfired when centre Keathan Freygang lost possession in a tackle. His opponent, Louis Meyer, with his first touch after being sent on to replace Wanderers captain Christo van der Merwe, offloaded to outside centre Nico Maartens for the try, which went unconverted.
Busch shrunk the deficit with a penalty, but Rehoboth again conceded a try straight from the kick-off, as Wanderers won a turnover and worked themselves into position for scrumhalf Jacques Theron to pick up and go straight through under the posts for a try which Van der Berg strangely failed to convert (31-22).
Motivated by a boisterous group of supporters, Rehoboth finished strong – aided by a 73rd-minute yellow card to Wanderers' wing Nandivatu Karuuombe for a high tackle. The Rooi Bulle attack was finally rewarded with Loubser receiving a long pass on the left-hand touchline and finding his way over for a try in the corner, which Busch converted.
Intriguing final
Wanderers, however, managed to hold on to their slender two-point lead as they booked their place against Unam, for an intriguing final on 3 September.
Wanderers (last champions in 2018, beating United) and Unam (last champions in 2017) also won their semi-finals last season, but the season was derailed by accusations against both clubs of using ineligible players.
Although Unam beat FNB Western Suburbs in the “final”, both finalists were also found guilty of using players without valid clearance documents from their previous clubs and the 2022 season was subsequently declared null and void.
• Wanderers II dominated Unam II 28-6 in the Reserve League semi-final and will contest the final on 3 September against Rehoboth II (winners by 22-7 against Kudus II).
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