By Fifi Rhodes
WINDHOEK- Scrumhalf Thenus ‘Worsie’ Kotze’s last-minute penalty kick was enough to send visiting South African outfit DHL Western Province packing as his boot saw Namibia scrape home with a 30-28 victory in their friendly encounter at a packed Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
It took the visitors just 3 minutes to announce their intentions when EW Viljoen scored his team’s opening try, which was successfully converted by Robert du Preez.
The Namibians replied via a penalty kick by Kotze to gain three points. The visitors continued with their attacks and accorded the home side little room to get into the groove, going into the changeover 13-9 in their favour.
But the 2nd half was a different kettle fish as Namibian captain PJ van Lill reduced the deficit with a try that was successfully converted by Kotze. Province’s were not yet done, with JP Lewis, Devon Williams and Viljoen all on target to stretch the visitors’ lead.
The educated boot of Kotze was again in the thick of things, this time closing the gap to 25-20 with another penalty kick. The match continued in the same pattern and in the last 7 minutes of injury time, substitute Johan Deysel levelled the score to 25-25 and Kotze once again stepped up with a successful conversion to give Namibia a 27-25 lead.
The visitors were not to be outdone and reduced the deficit through a penalty kick to regain the lead (28-27). The Welwitchias had the last laugh when Kotze added another penalty kick for Namibia to win the encounter 30-28.
Namibia will take on the Vodacom Blue Bulls at the same venue this coming weekend, also to serve as another warm-up match ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualification.