Valke spoil Welwitschias hopes of upset

The Windhoek Draught Welwitschias are still looking for their first really big performance in the Mzansi Challenge after failing to upset the form guide in their 24-28 loss against the Valke in Windhoek on Saturday.

Losing the try count seven to three, the Namibians still remain on just one log point in the competition – for losing by less than seven against the Border Bulldogs in week one.

The Valke maintained their winning form this season, while the new generation of Welwitschias are looking to rebuild the same confidence and accuracy that led them to a 34-24 win against the same union in Kempton Park in 2018, their last previous participation in a South African competition.

The Eastern Gauteng team was leading 29-10 at half-time, having already shown their trademark enterprise in counter-attacking, off-loading and quick-phase recycling.



Crowd pleased

Tries by lock Eddie Evans, flank Jordan van Dyk, leftwing Valentino Wellman, and hooker Pierre Rabie, along with flyhalf Keagan Fortune’s three conversions and a penalty, put the pressure firmly on the home team.

After 14 minutes, the Welwitschias had managed to hit back to 7-7 when scrumhalf Jacques Theron showed his speed off the mark to score breaking from a scrum, while flyhalf André van der Berg added the conversion and a penalty.

The Valke also hit the first blow of the second half, working their Nr. 8 April Zingisa over from a lineout maul (36-10).

Off a midfield turnover attack, the Welwitschias forced a penalty, from which Theron took a quick tap and sent centre Danco Burger over for the second try, to the delight of the home crowd (36-17).

However, more constructive phase build-up enabled the Valke to add Wellman’s second try in the left corner as well as the replacement prop Bulelani Sali barging over from close range.





Lack of momentum

With the hooter sounding the end of 80 minutes and the Valke total at 48, Fortune aimed to put the fifty on the board with a penalty. However, his kick sailed wide and was collected by Johan Luttig who launched a counterattack. From his own 22-metre line, Van der Berg broke through the defence and fed an inside pass to wing Nico Maartens, who raced away for the last converted try.

Conceding vital penalties, lineout throws that didn’t go in straight, and other unforced errors took away much of the momentum the Namibians were looking for during their fightback.

Among the forwards, flank Max Katjijeko showed an admirable work rate, while the centre pairing of Danco Burger and Hillian Beukes made some good runs with limited possession.



Up next

The Namibians now prepare for their first away trip of the competition, facing the Zimbabwe Goshawks in Harare next Saturday.

Namibia Rugby Union president Petrie Theron confirmed that the Zimbabwe match will not have test match status.

The match will be the Goshawks’ first of the competition after they withdrew from their first three scheduled matches. In the 2022 edition, their only wins were against the Kenya Simbas (22-21) and Boland Kavaliers (23-22).