Kudus off to a good start

FNB Kudu Rugby Club (KRC) hosted FNB Rehoboth Rugby Club (RRC) and recorded two wins and a loss against the visitors. The matches had to be played in Swakopmund at the Tamariskia Stadium due to the unavailability of playing fields in Walvis Bay.
The Kudu Rugby Club first team defeated the Rehoboth Rugby Club first team 32-15 in a Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) Premier League and final match of the day. Fly-half Kyle Wentzel put Kudus on the attack with a well-placed kick which eventually resulted in Kudus being awarded a penalty. Wentzel converted it for the first points (3-0) on the scoreboard.
Fly-half Ascher Coetzee converted a penalty kick for Rehoboth and levelled the cores (3-3). Wentzel converted a second penalty for Kudus (6-3). Outside centre Hillian Beukes crashed over for the first try of the match and handed the lead (8-6) for the visitors from Rehoboth with Coetzee missing the conversion.
Numerous handling errors cost both teams a couple of try scoring opportunities with the halftime score being 8-6 in favour of Rehoboth.
Wentzel converted another penalty for Kudus and handed the coastal side the lead (9-8) when play resumed after the break. Kudus was then reduced to 14 men approximately 10 minutes into the second half when referee Oscar Lambert red carded the second row player Codey Naholo for dangerous play. Their “never say die attitude” earned Kudus a penalty which Wentzel converted (12-8).
Rehoboth failed to capitalise on their one man advantage with outside centre Lloyd Jacobs scoring Kudus first try (17-8) after some good running and excelling passing skills displayed by the coastal side. Jacobs successfully rounded off an attacking move that the blindside flanker and Kudus captain Cameron Langenhoven, started deep within his own half. Wentzel missed the conversion.
Kudus then suffered another blow when their open-side flanker Lezardo Vos was yellow carded. Referee Lambert also showed the right wing Brandon Dentlinger of Rehoboth Rugby Club a yellow card.
Aurelio Plato who came on as a replacement converted a penalty (20-8).
Left wing Jayden Bussel had the Kudus crowd on their feet and chanting after he intercepted a ball and touched down for another try (25-8). Jacobs missed the conversion.
Rehoboth’s persistence finally paid off with Keanan Basson who came on as a replacement touching down for the first try on behalf of the visitors. Coetzee converted and made the score 25-15.
In the dying moments of the match, Kudus full back Aston Mukwiilongo crashed over for another try converted by scrum-half Percy Nash for a final score of 32-15 in favour of Kudus.

Reserve League action

The Rehoboth Rugby Club second team defeated the Kudu Rugby Club (defending champions) second team with 9-6 in a tightly contested NRU Reserve League match in which no tries were scored.
Fly-half Giovanni Izaaks converted a penalty kick for the first points on behalf of Kudus. Handling errors resulted in numerous unconverted penalties and prevented both teams from scoring any tries.
Outside centre Cassey Beukes converted a penalty when play resumed after the break and levelled the scores (3-3). He also handed Rehoboth the lead with another penalty conversion (6-3). Fly-half Miquel Busch surprised friend and foe with a perfectly executed drop goal and made the final score 9-3 in favour.

Women’s rugby

The Kudu Bokkies started their campaign with a 10-0 win against the Rehoboth Ladies in the first match of the day. The two national women’s team players Faizal-Lee Tjivava (tighthead prop) and captain Tammy Roodt (fly-half) within the ranks of Kudus, were instrumental for the coastal side.
All the points were scored in the first half of the match. Tjivava crashed over for the first try which Roodt failed to convert (5-0). Rood and Tjivava then combined with Roodt touching down for the second try right under the posts for the Kudu Bokkies before the whistle went for halftime.
The ladies from Rehoboth who had national women’s team player Pione van Rooyen (scrum-half) in their midst, launched a concerted effort in the second half, but spirited defending by the Bokkies kept them at bay.
Coach Abraham Farmer said his team showed that they are ready to compete. “Some new players joined and they are still struggling to find their feet. Today was just a proof run and we have some fine-tuning to do.
The Rehoboth Ladies coach Sade Eiman said it was a good game. “We have a young squad with some talented players. We performed better in the second half. It is back to the drawing board for us and we will work on the mistakes we made.”