Wanderers end UNAM’s 37 match unbeaten run

WINDHOEK, 29 APR  – Wanderers Rugby Club became the first team to beat the University of Namibia (UNAM) Rugby Club in three years by beating them 37-34 at Wanderers Sports Club in Windhoek on Saturday.
Wanderers started the match on a positive note, scoring and converting three tries and a penalty before the half-time break, when they led the match 24-13.
UNAM scored and converted one try and two penalties in the first half.
The second half saw UNAM coming back strongly, scoring and converting three tries, while Wanderers scored and converted one try and two penalties.
UNAM’s efforts proved fruitless however, as Wanderers held on for the win.
Speaking to Nampa after the match, UNAM team manager Werner Jeffery said the defeat was a long time coming.
“This defeat came in at a good time. It is good for the league and now UNAM has competition. We were in a comfort zone. This is a good wake up call for the boys,” he said.
He added that the one break before the resumption of the second round of the 2018 rugby season will give the team enough time to get over the defeat.
Jeffery said the aim still remains for them to win the championship for a record fifth time in a row.
UNAM played the match without their head coach Johan Diergaardt, but Jeffery said that did not contribute to their defeat as they have capable coaches within the club.
He said after last week’s match against United, where UNAM scored a last gasp try to win the match by one point, signs were already there that defeat was imminent.
Vince Dryer, the coach for Wanderers said it was a tough game for his team despite the win.
“We have shown that UNAM can be beaten. It is unfortunate that we lost against Kudus and (Western) Suburbs. We are the top try scoring team in the league and today we worked on it and it won us today’s match.”
He admitted that the league is not yet won and that by beating UNAM they were looking forward to the second round of this year’s campaign.
UNAM had gone for 37 matches without tasting defeat prior to yesterday’s match, winning four consecutive championships in the processes.
In other matches played over the weekend, Rehoboth produced another shock result by beating Western Suburbs 42-26 at Suburbs Park.
Kudus beat Reho Falcons 36-24 at Walvis Bay.

NAMPA