Maqonda Ndlovu
Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) successfully concluded their league semi-final matches despite a dark cloud hanging over the programme after a group of disgruntled ‘Rugby Lovers’ threatened to take the league to court over match fixing allegations.
In a letter made available to New Era Sport on Friday afternoon, the so-called ‘Rugby Lovers’ said the NRU had failed to deal with Kudus no-show for their fixture against Rehoboth, thereby acting unsportingly. The group threatened to take the matter to the High Court to stop the matches from taking place.
However, the matches went ahead without any disturbances, as the
organisers said the issue of Kudus and Rehoboth was water under the bridge.
In the Women’s Division, defending champions FNB Wanderers Bokkies and Trusco United Gemsbokkies dished out a humdinger of a match that saw the latter emerge victorious by a single point (22-23) to book a spot in the finals. They will meet FNB Unam Steenbokkies, who crushed FNB Kudus Bokkies by 37-3 in a one-sided affair.
In the men’s reserve league, defending champions FNB Wanderers 2 lost a pulsating encounter against FNB Grootfontein 2 in a match that could have gone either way as both teams displayed attractive attacking rugby.
Grootfontein edged Wanderers by 33-31 to book a place in the final for the first time ever and booked a date with FNB Kudus 2, who beat favourites Trusco United 2: 41-40. In the men’s Premier League final, defending champions FNB Wanderers 1 proved too strong for FNB Rehoboth 1, outclassing them 30-22.
Wanderers will play Trusco United 1, who knocked out Kudus 1 in a match that many regarded as the final before the
final. United rallied from behind to win the match 28-27 after Kudus had taken a 7-17 halftime lead.
Reiner Benade missed two successive penalties in the dying minutes of the
game before scoring the decisive winning penalty with the last kick of the match to break the hearts of Kudus players and fans who had thronged Hage Geingob Stadium.
The finals are set to take place at the same venue on Saturday 27 August where the Namibia National Rugby side, the Welwitschias, are set to play their final preparatory matches against the leading South African franchise side, the Blue Bulls.– jrnmarko@gmail.com