ZIMBABWE national rugby team made a spirited late surge, but could not rescue the game as they went down 37-33 to hosts Namibia in the opening match of the Windhoek Lager Tri-Nations on Saturday afternoon.
Report by Sports Reporter
The Sables will meet Spain in the second match on Wednesday evening. Kick-Off is 6pm.
Reports indicate that Namibia led 16-15 at half time and surged into a 34-18 lead with few minutes to go, but a strong fightback by Zimbabwe saw the home side eventually winning by only four points.
Namibia stretched their lead to 16-3 when Chrysander Botha touched down in the corner, after being put in space from a fine skip pass by Kotze. Botha continued to threaten with a great kick and run, but Zimbabwe wing Wesley Mbanje just managed to dot down ahead of Justin Nel.
Zimbabwean flyhalf Makwanya scored the visitors’ first try when he broke through a tackle and ran 30m to dot down, but he missed a simple conversion, to make the score 16-8.
Just before half time, Zimbabwe got a penalty try after a scrum infringement on Namibia’s tryline and with Makhanya adding the conversion, Namibia held a narrow 16-15 lead going into the break.
Namibia attacked from the restart and debutant winger Johan Tromp went over for a try in the corner after being put clear by Darryl de la Harpe.
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Kotze’s fine conversion from the touchline put Namibia 23-15 ahead. Makwanya and Kotze traded penalties and then Namibian prop Johnny Redelinghuys went over in the corner after a fine attack involving de la Harpe and Tromp.
Namibia’s forwards maintained the pressure and when Kotze added a fine drop goal to make it 34-18 it seemed as if Namibia would easily win the match.
But lapses in concentration allowed Zimbabwe back into the match, as two unconverted tries in quick succession by fullback Tangai Nemadire and flanker Lucky Sithole made the score 34-28.
Kotze added a penalty, but Nemadire scored his second try after a pass by Wesley Mbanje to make the final score 37-33.
