Windhoek
Namibia’s second strings rugby fifteen, Windhoek Draught Welwitschias, put up a much-improved performance in their 14th and final match of the South African Provincial Currie Cup against table toppers Western Province at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
The Namibian amateurs suffered their umpteenth consecutive defeat and remain on the basement of the log table with a paltry worrisome one bonus point to their credit.
The Windhoek Draught Welwitschias have been stuck at the bottom of the log standings since day one as they found the going tough in the highly competitive South African second tier rugby competition.
Although the final reading of 17-71 on the scoreboard might not look flattering, the hosts certainly put up a gallant showing but inexperience cost them dearly.
The visitors signalled their intentions early in the opening half when the troublesome flyhalf Dennis Cox and the ever alert eighthman Kobus van Dyk scored a try apiece to give the Capetonians a comfortable healthy lead of 12-0 with barely ten minutes on the clock.
However, the hosts bounced back with a converted try by Mancho Prinsloo, but that was almost the last time the hosts would trouble the fired-up Western Province.
Scrumhalf Justin Phillips visited the whitewash for an unconverted try before Province wrapped up the much-needed bonus point by scoring four tries in the opening 20 minutes.
Van Dyk and outside centre EW Viljoen both registered their names on the scoresheet with a brace of tries apiece as the visitors ran in eleven tries, while the hosts could only respond with a converted try by exciting flyhalf Prinsloo.
The visitors were cruising freely going into the changeover with a comfortable points cushion of 31-7.
The contest became a one-sided affair in the second half as the visitors opened up on all cylinders with substitute flank Eital Steenkamp, Christo van der Mertwe (flank), replacement scrumhalf Byers de Villiers, substitute Scott van Breda, winger Khayo Ngcukana and the ever present eighthman Viljoen all adding to the tally with a try apiece.
And that’s how it remained: Windhoek Draught Welwitschias 7-71 Western Province.