Nam Invitational team goes down fighting against the Bulls

WINDHOEK, 23 SEP – The Namibia Invitational (Nam Invitational) on Saturday lost 38-52 against the visiting Blue Bulls at the Hage Geingob Stadium in the capital.
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) selected a squad of local-based players that used this match as a way of getting game-time while keeping fit as they prepare for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The Namibian boys came out firing on all cylinders against their South African counterparts.
It was the Bulls, however, who opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute when they ran in a try that was not converted.
Namibia replied in the 11th minute with a penalty but the Bulls ran in their second try in the 16th minute, which was again not converted.
The Bulls’ lead lasted only four minutes as the Namibian team scored their first try of the match in the 20th minute for a 10-10 score line.
Namibia took the lead for the first time in the match on the 22nd minute with their second try of the match which was also converted.
The Bulls bounced back in the 32nd minute after they were awarded a penalty try and they backed that up minutes later with their fourth try of the match in the 36th minute and converted for a 17-24 half-time score line.
In the second half, the Namibian boys lost their grip in the starting minutes, allowing the Bulls to run in a try just two minutes after the restart.
In a game that saw the local boys give it their all in front of their supporters, Nam Invitational bounced back with two tries in the 55th minute and 59th minute to level the scores at 31-31.
In the 68th minute, the Bulls’ determination to win the game paid off with a try, followed by another try in the 72nd minute as they caught their opponents napping.
The match, which had the spectators on the edge of their seats, saw the Namibian boys bounce back once more with a try in the 76th minute, but a try by the Bulls after 80 minutes was enough to hand them the win on the day. – NAMPA