Rugby

Western Suburbs scored the required four tries and got the required bonus point to claim the last semi final spot in the MTC Rugby Premier League when they beat Mariental 29-12 on Saturday.

Centre Daryl de la Harpe scored the first try for Suburbs followed by two tries by prop Hauta Veii.

Four minutes before the final whistle, Suburbs had a try disallowed after the linesman judged that there had been a knock on earlier.

Western Suburbs have a second shot at a semi final spot when they travel to Mariental for a rematch after an arbitrator ruled in their favour. This will be the only MTC Rugby Premier League on August 28.

The match was rescheduled after Suburbs appealed a decision by the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) to award the full six points to Mariental after they had refused to travel to Stampriet, which is 30km east of Mariental, for a scheduled league match. This happened in round five of the season.

The MTC Rugby Premier League was thrown a curve ball this weekend when most of the teams played their last matches of the season before the semi finals on September 4.

United, who had been ruled out of the semi finals were given another lifeline when they got a maximum six points after Kudus failed to turn up for their match. As a result of the forfeited match, United now have 36 points with 14 matches played and are now currently fifth on the log with the same number of points with Mariental.

Windhoek High School won the Metropolitan Boards Trophy for the fourth year in a row with an exciting 35-13 victory over Dr Lemmer of Rehoboth on Saturday evening. The match was still evenly poised at halftime with WHS leading 8-6, but WHS turned up the tempo in the second half, attacking from all corners of the field to run in five tries for a convincing victory.

The semi final spots for the 2010 MTC Rugby Premier League have been decided with three matches remaining.

Reho Falcon are leading the log with 50 points after they beat Western Suburbs 43-26 in their last match before the semi finals on 4 September.

Falcons have had a reasonably successful season after they won nine of their 14 matches. Suburbs on the other hand, are fifth on the log having played 13 matches and won six, and might still have one more match if the arbitrators decide that their match against Mariental should be replayed instead of recording it as a forfeited match.

Windhoek High School (WHS) and Dr. Lemmer will meet in Under 19 Super League final of the Metropolitan Schools Rugby Board Trophy league, which will be played on 21 August at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in Windhoek.

The defending champions WHS beat Walvis Bay 36-13 to book their place in the final. In the other semi final Dr. Lemmer had a hard time against last years’ finalists Elnatan. The full time result was 16-16 and they had to have a kick out to get a winner. Dr. Lemmer beat Elnatan 3-2 to qualify for final.

Reho Falcon went to the top of the MTC Rugby Premier League log after beating Western Suburbs 43-26 in an entertaining match at Suburbs Park on Saturday. Falcons ran in six tries, with flyhalf Jacky Bok and centre Attie du Plessis each scoring a brace, while fullback Howard Titus added 13 points with the boot.

Suburbs were still in with a shout as they trailed 21-18 shortly after halftime, but Falcons turned on the style with some attacking rugby which saw them running out comfortable victors.

Western Suburbs will put up a last ditch effort to reach the MTC Rugby Premier League semi finals when they play their last match of the league against second placed Reho Falcon at Suburbs Park on Saturday afternoon.

Suburbs are currently fifth on the log with 32 points after they lost 39-16 against defending champions Rehoboth last weekend. They still have a mathematical chance of getting a fourth place finish if they beat Falcons with two bonus points and Rehoboth, who are fourth with 37 points, lose their next match and fail to get any bonus points.

Windhoek High School (WHS) once again dominated the Metropolitan Schools Rugby Board Trophy League with eight of its teams reaching the semi finals which are due to be played at the Hage Geingob Stadium on 13 and 14 August.

Wanderers strengthened their position at the top of the MTC Rugby Premier League with a hard fought 26-15 victory against second-placed Reho Falcon at the Wanderers field on Saturday.

Wanderers’ pack laid the foundation with a powerful display in the set pieces and mauls, where eighthman PJ van Lill was once again outstanding.

Van Lill set up numerous scoring opportunities with his bullocking runs, that had Falcons’ defence at full stretch as it often took two or three players to pull the rampaging forward down.