Izaaks breaks Falcon’s resistance

Strongly-favoured FNB Western Suburbs found themselves in a spot of bother against a brief - but determined - second-half fightback by FNB Reho Falcon in their Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) premier league match at Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.

Strugglers Reho Falcon had twice crept up to within one point of the Khomasdal team (24-23 and 27-26), before a great individual long-range try by centre Dylan Izaaks finally broke their resistance.

Western Suburbs took the lead first when flank Dhale Cloete crashed through a tackle to score under the posts, for scrum-half Bronwon Willemse to convert.

With a bit of help from a string of penalties by referee Zaid Isaacs, Reho Falcon worked their way to an attacking position from which lock Lwando Nteta crashed over, but captain and fly-half Brandon Dentlinger fluffed the kick in front of the posts.

Nteta is one of three South African club players drafted by Falcon to bolster their premier league resistance, while inside centre Liam Parker is another who made his mark with two well-taken second-half tries.

However, before that, Reho Falcon conceded two intercept tries to Suburbs right wing Dumarcho Hartung, who pounced from the halfway line on both occasions to punish the lack of control. Willemse’s easy conversions put Suburbs 21-8 in front at half-time, after Dentlinger had added a penalty for Falcon.

Lack of discipline

Through lack of discipline and after lashing out with a open-fisted push into the face of opposing scrum-half Dylan Kahman in front of the referee, Suburbs lost error-prone flyhalf Ethan Beukes to a yellow card, followed just minutes later by Falcon’s prop Patty Waggi getting sinbinned.

Parker’s two tries and two penalties by full-back Enrique Husselmann kept Falcon in the picture at 23-24 and 26-27. However, demolished in the scrums and unable to win their own lineout throws, Falcon were barely hanging on.

The turn-around came when Izaaks had to turn back to retrieve a kick into his own 22-area, from which he sped past two tiring defenders on an 80-metre sprint to score at the other end. Even the Falcon coaches Frank Izaacs and Eden Meyer had to applaud the effort for the bonus-point try.

Suburbs finished stronger in the final minutes, adding two tries to hooker Vernon Diergaardt against the disintegrating defence.

At Grootfontein

FNB Kudus added five league points after scoring six tries in their 48-31 away win against FNB Grootfontein.

The northern team at the bottom of the log also managed a four-try bonus point thanks to finishes by hooker Callie Swanepoel (two), centre Jurgens Liebenberg and replacement forward Amutenya Amutenya, while Ronald Deck at full-back added three conversions and a penalty.

Grootfontein’s efforts were hampered by yellow cards to each of the loose trio Hendrik van Zyl, Tehan Martinson and Pieter-Daan Kok.

Kudus, who were held to 17-17 and 24-24 at earlier stages, had the last laugh, though.

The Walvis Bay team’s tries were scored by lock Enzio Kotzee, fly-half Chad Plato, wing Paolo Andrews, full-back Geraldo Beukes and replacement back Ronaldo Diergaardt (two). Beukes landed six conversions and two penalties. Kudus conceded lock Tersius Arangies to the sinbin.

With three wins and a draw at Wanderers from five matches, Kudus are now second on the log (19 points) behind unbeaten Trustco United (20 from four matches).

For full results, fixtures and log standings, visit fnbrugby.my.na.