Oranjemund clip Swallows wings

Oranjemund Rugby Club secured a spot in the final of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) First League with a convincing 39-5 victory over the defending champions Ocean Swallows in Lüderitz on Saturday.


This was Oranjemund's last league fixture before the final scheduled for 21 June in Windhoek. The Diamond Town boys collected 15 points and cannot be overtaken by Swallows on two points and Keetmanshoop Rams with six points. Swallows will tackle RAMS in Keetmanshoop on 24 May in the final First Division South fixture. Oranjemund will play the top placed team from the First Division Central / North with Vipers (25 points), Etosha Lions (24 points) and the Okahandja Highlanders (15 points) in the running with three rounds of matches remaining.


Fast paced - Captain and inside centre Gino Wilson scored the opening try in the 5th minute. Scrum-half Ronald Solomons missed the conversion (5-0). Henis Shipepo (lock), replied for Ocean Swallows and levelled the score (5-5). Scrum-half Keanu Van Neel missed the conversion. Eightman Keanan Beukes crashed over for a second try on behalf of Oranjemund. Wilson missed the conversion (10-5). Beukes added a third and his second try for Oranjemund. Wilson missed the conversion. The halftime score was 10-5.


Second half - Lock Arnoldus Enslin crashed over when play resumed after the break. Wilson added the conversion (22-5). Fly-half Heinrich Solomons also visited the tryline for Oranjemund. Wilson added the conversion (29-5). Oranjemund was reduced to 13 men with the referee Robert Schonmetzler showing yellow cards to the outside centre Ryan Wurms and replacement forward Reginald Losper. Wilson converted a penalty and stretched the lead for Okahandja to 26 points (32-5). Replacement forward Given Julius scored a try for Oranjemund and Wilson added the conversion (39-5). Inside centre, Everon Aspara touched down for Ocean Swallows (10-39) second try in the final moments of the game. Van Neel missed the conversion. The fulltime score was 39-10.


Mission accomplished - “The score is a true reflection of how the game went. We were better prepared and expected more from Swallows on their home ground. I know they will come back stronger because they have the talent,” said Oranjemund captain Gino Wilson. He added that he is proud of his team. “We are a step closer to winning the final this year. We have seven weeks to prepare. We only played four games while the teams from the First Division Central / North are still playing matches.”