Winger Willy Ambaka on his way to the tryline
WINDHOEK - Namibia booked their place at the World Cup for the sixth successive time on Saturday with a 53-28 victory over Kenya.
Namibia will play in Pool B at the 2019 World Cup
in Japan alongside defending champions New Zealand,
South Africa and Italy as well as the winners of the
repechage event.
That final qualifying round will feature Kenya,
Germany, Canada and Hong Kong and will be played in
Marseille in November.
The winners will take the final spot for the Japan
showpiece.
Namibia went onto the offensive from the start on
Saturday, forcing the visitors to concede an early
penalty try.
But Kenya fought their way back when Sevens star
Willy Ambaka, who scored two tries on his Test debut
against Tunisia, touched down at the corner and
Darwin Mukidza converted to give the visitors a 7-3
lead.
Full-back Chrysander Botha and Louis Van der
Westhuizen then scored back-to-back tries to put
Namibia in the driving seat.
Van der Westhuizen turned over the ball for his
second try when he combined well with Jan-Pieter Van
Lill at the start of the second half for a 29-7
lead.
Ambaka would score his second try of the match but
it was a little too late for Kenya, as Namibia
increased their tally when Max Katjijeko scored the
fifth try.
Despite two late tries by replacements Malcolm
Onsando and scrum half Mohammed Omolo, Namibia
extended their domination over the East Africans
when Botha and Cliven Loubser completed the scoring
for the winners. - Nampa-AFP