RAMS go top, Oranjemund hit back

Otis Daniels

14 hours ago - 2026-07-30 09:50:49
0 Views

Keetmanshoop RAMS moved to the top of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) ǁKharas First Division South standings after defeating Ocean Swallows 24-10 in Lüderitz on Saturday, while Oranjemund Rugby Club returned to winning ways with a 31-25 victory over Mariental Rugby Club.

The two teams are level on 20 points after five matches, having each won four and lost one. However, RAMS lead the standings on points difference. Keetmanshoop have scored 132 points and conceded 101 for a points difference of 31, while Oranjemund have scored 147 and conceded 123, giving them a points difference of 24.

Fresh from their hard-fought victory over Oranjemund the previous weekend, RAMS secured a second successive hard-fought win against Swallows. Captain Sean-Aime Pieters praised his side's determination after the match. "Ocean Swallows gave us a tough time. We were a bit tense at the beginning and had to work very hard for the win. It was a must-win game, and we can now focus on getting a positive result against Mariental," he said.

Swallows opened the scoring when fly-half Jamall van Wyk kicked a penalty to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. RAMS responded through outside centre Heino Kiester, who crossed for the opening try. Fly-half Marc Sauls missed the conversion, leaving the visitors 5-3 ahead. Lock Giano Taljaard extended the lead with RAMS' second try before half-time, with Sauls adding the conversion to make it 12-3 at the break.

Sauls crossed for RAMS' third try early in the second half but was again unsuccessful with the conversion as the visitors stretched their advantage to 17-3. Swallows reduced the deficit when replacement Steven Lunguti scored a converted try, with Van Wyk adding the extras to make it 17-10. RAMS wrapped up the victory when openside flanker Edward Stein powered over for their fourth try. Replacement Clifford Maasdorp added the conversion to seal a 24-10 victory.

Oranjemund bounce back – Oranjemund recovered from last week's defeat to RAMS with a hard-fought 31-25 victory over Mariental.

Inside centre Gino Wilson, left wing Wayne Jochimsen, fly-half Ronald Solomons, number eight Winnesspeare Temmers and lock Jaden Beukes all crossed for Oranjemund, while Wilson added three conversions. Mariental replied through two tries from full-back Denver Goliath, while outside centre Fizel Coetzee, fly-half Fabian Routh and openside flanker Christopher Umati also crossed the whitewash.

Central / North First Division - Vikings lead the NRU Central/North First Division standings with 50 points from 11 matches, having won nine and lost two.

Sparta United is placed second on 46 points, followed by Vipers (34), Oceans (26), Okahandja Highlanders (21), Eastern Bulls (18) and Reho Falcon 3 (15). NUST remain rooted to the bottom of the standings on minus one point.

The final round of the ǁKharas First Division league matches will be played on 8 August. The final round of the Central / North First Division league matches will take place on 29 August. The top eight teams on the combined NRU First Division log will qualify for the quarter-finals on 5 September. Oranjemund will host the southern leg of the third Ongos Valley Sevens tournament on 3 October. The semi-finals of the NRU First Division are scheduled for 12 September, with the final set to be played at the Hage Geingob Stadium on 19 September.

Upcoming fixtures (8 August)