Rugby

Namibia put in a great performance to beat Zimbabwe 44-23 in the Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR) Junior Africa Cup final on Saturday to book their place at next year’s Junior World Trophy.

Playing a fast, expansive game, Namibia attacked from the start and with backs and forwards combining well they ran in a total of seven tries.

At halftime they already led 24-6 and although Zimbabwe tried to make a second half comeback, Namibia kept up the pressure to run out comfortable winners.

Western Suburbs and Rehoboth will contest the MTC Rugby Premier League final after they beat Reho Falcon and United respectively in the semifinals on Saturday.

In the first encounter, Suburbs beat the defending champions Neo Paints Reho Falcon 24-6 after leading 14-6 at halftime, while in the second match, Rehoboth staged a great comeback to beat United 22-17 after trailing 10-8 at halftime.

The match between Suburbs and Falcons was a dour encounter that saw few highlights with most of the action taking place amongst the forwards while there was little running rugby on display.

The battle for a place in the MTC Rugby Premier League final will be wide open when the country’s top four teams play off in the semifinals at the Hage Geingob National Rugby Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The defending champions Reho Falcon take on Western Suburbs in the first semifinal at 16h50, while United take on Rehoboth in the second semifinal at 18h30.

When these teams met during the league competition, nothing much separated them, with the winner on each occasion being determined by a single point.

Namibia beat Kenya 39-11 at the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) U19 Championships in Harare on Wednesday, to remain on track for a place at the 2013 Junior World Trophy in Chile next year.

Namibia dominated the match against Kenya from the start, scoring a total of six tries to complete an emphatic victory.

Namibian flyhalf Deslee Beukes had a great game, scoring a try, four conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 14 points.

A dream come true is how Namibian international David Philander describes his signing for the Poverty Bay team for the Heartland Championship.

“I have always dreamed of playing rugby in New Zealand,” said the 25-year-old, 1.71-metre, 87-kilogram back, who arrived in Gisborne on Monday.

“I’m a big fan of the All Blacks and the way New Zealanders play their rugby. Coming here is a chance for me to fulfil my dream and improve my rugby.”

Windhoek High School won the Under 19 Super Plate of the Metropolitan Boards Schools Rugby trophy for the sixth year in a row after beating Windhoek Gymnasium 31-19 in the final on Saturday evening.

WHS took a 19-0 lead at halftime and despite having prop GD Orlam sent off early in the second half they withstood late pressure from Gymnasium to comfortably win the match.

Orlam, who was playing in his 50th match for WHS, led the team onto the field, but his special day was spoilt when he was sent off seven minutes into the second half for foul play.

Western Suburbs cruised to a 24-0 victory over Dolphins in Swakopmund on Saturday to end the preliminary round of the Rugby Premier League as log leaders.

Eighthman Victor Giggs had a great game and managed to break through the defence of the coastal team on two occasions.

Suburbs flanker Brendon Walters and winger Darryl Alcock recorded one try each, with outside centre Justin Nell adding two conversions.

For the Khomasdal based team it was the fifth consecutive win after they had lost two of their first three matches.

After beating UNAM 25-20 on Wednesday, log leaders United is the first team to have qualified for the semi-final of the Rugby Premier League.

The University team picked up a bonus point for the close defeat and thus moved up to second position. However, depending on the results of tomorrow´s last round matches they might end up in fifth place.

Western Suburbs, Reho Falcons and Rehoboth will all try to push UNAM out of the top four, thereby securing themselves a spot in the semi-finals set for 1 September.

Western Suburbs on Saturday managed to record a narrow 16-15 home victory over defending champions Reho Falcon in Round 7 of the MTC Rugby Premier League.

Fullback Justin Nell gave the hosts an early lead by converting a penalty only four minutes into the match.

Falcons then took control of the game and struck back midway through the first half, when left wing Heini Bock opened his team`s account with a try.

Centre Darryl de la Harpe was the first player of Suburbs to cross the line, with Nel adding the conversion.

Namibian rugby’s prowess in Africa over the past decade has come under threat following their defeat to Madagascar on Sunday which has made qualification for the 2015 Rugby World Cup much more difficult to attain.

Namibia has qualified for the last four Rugby World Cups in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, but qualification for 2015 will now be much more difficult following their 57-54 defeat to Madagascar on Sunday in the final of the IRB Africa Cup Division 1B competition.