Keetmanshoop RAMS power through to semi-finals

Keetmanshoop RAMS booked their place in the semi-finals of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) First Division with a hard-fought 43-24 victory over Eastern Bulls at the Krönlein Stadium in Keetmanshoop on Saturday.

RAMS will face Vipers, who beat Vikings 24-7. Oranjemund will take on Oceans in the semi-finals, who defeated Sparta 23-17. Okahandja Highlanders withdrew from their quarter-final clash against Oranjemund, citing a lack of funds to make the trip. The semi-finals will be played at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on 12 September, with the final scheduled for the same venue on 19 September.

The fast-paced match that played out in Keetmanshoop produced 10 tries and kept the crowd on its feet throughout. “I cannot describe the feeling. We worked very hard, and the victory is well deserved. We gave our best. We struggled in the first half and only started to play our game in the second half. Our fitness carried us through. We have a saying: ‘Our home, our rules,' said Keetmanshoop RAMS captain and full-back Shaun Aimee.

Aimee said the team would take the same approach in preparing for the semi-final. “I believe, we believe, and the impossible will be possible with commitment and dedication. We lost against Grootfontein in the 2019 final and would like to make amends,” he said. Eastern Bulls coach Marcus Shikongo congratulated their opponents. “They made good use of the chances they created. Some of our players picked up injuries, and we did not have enough substitutes available. This ultimately cost us,” he said.

Keetmanshoop RAMS opened the scoring in the second minute and scored seven tries. Inside centre Hieno Keister and eightman Gio-Mario Morkel each scored twice, while inside centre Ivor Stein, blindside flanker David van Schalkwyk and lock Valintino Tiboth also crossed the try line for RAMS. Fly-half Marck Sauls converted four of their seven tries. Blindside flanker Vakomboka Kamboa scored two tries for Eastern Bulls, while right wing Ethan Amamub also crossed the try line. Kamboa converted both tries and a penalty.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men in the second half after referee Robert Bezuidenhoudt showed yellow cards to RAMS left wing William Kido for jumping into a tackle and Eastern Bulls’ Allessandro van Rooyen for tackling without using his arms.

Oceans 23-17 Sparta – Full-back Alicno Beneke, left wing Bennett van Wyk and substitute Irvin Damants scored tries for Oceans. Inside centre Jayden Haidula converted all three tries and kicked two penalties.

Scrum-half Jordan Strauss, eightman Lestat Majiedt and loosehead prop Uahupa Katjariua scored tries for Sparta, while fly-half Bavin Kotzee converted two.

Vipers 24-7 Vikings – Vipers defeated Vikings 24-7, with fly-half Keana Jansen scoring two tries and converting one. Full-back Gertiano Ferus and hooker Lukas Maree also scored for Vipers, with Duncan Subeb converting one try. Eightman John-Michael Richter scored Vikings’ only try, which was converted by scrum-half Derrick Human.