Chipu fall short against iron-clad Namibia in fierce Barthes Cup contest

Barthes Cup defending champions Kenya Chipu were humbled 32-22 by enterprising Namibian in a pulsating encounter at the Old Hararians Club, Zimbabwe yesterday.

Namibia’s two wins put them in pole position in the four team group as the 2025 Rugby Africa Barthes Cup heats up. They are now on 10 points after their opening day 41-22 blowout of hosts Zimbabwe. The game itself was proper drama with end to end plays from both sides.

The Southern African nation had four tries in the duel all in the second half as they capitalized on some lapses at the backend of Kenya’s play. Chipu was living dangerously as they allowed Namibia in their territory with early pressure piling. However the Namibians who had played most of the time in Kenya’s 22 still find it hard to go past the defence of Simon Jawichre’s side.

Namibia pressed on, as they looked for a try relentlessly. That was to be difficult as a kick for touch ended up on turnover in possession just as the center referee called for a water break.

The two sides then exchanged turns with a flurry of errors in the middle area before plucky Namibia managed an offload in the tackle to break into Chipu’s 22, only for Kenya to force turnover in the tackle.

Namibia would finally opt to go for goal, with their half back effort successful to give Namibia a 3-0 lead with 25 minutes of play drifted by, as handling errors and breakdown mistakes continued to be a problem. Both sides missed attempts at goal before a knock on from Kenya marked half time, scores 3-0 to the favour of Namibia.

Chipu started the second half brightly, with good kicks straight off the restart before countering from a box kick, Daniel Kipchirchir releasing Javan Odhiambo who received the ball on the inside support line just inside the 22 to race away for the game’s first try as Kenya took a 7-3 lead. Namibia then got back their lead minutes later, first a five-metre maul to keep the Kenyan forwards occupied before tactfully catching Chipu on the outside to score their first try of the afternoon to take scores to a slim 8-7.

Kenya then replied straight of the restart with flyhalf Farren Juma finding the 50-22 before Javan Odhiambo latched onto a Dennis Ndayala grabber kick from the resulting play to score in the corner to give Kenya an 8-12 lead with less than ten minutes of the second half played at this point.

Namibia scored next as Kenya were punished for not releasing in the tackle allowing Namibia to find touch on the five meter line before launching an attack from the back of the maul to get back on the lead, scores now 15-12.

Kenya would be caught in no man’s land later as Namibia came forcefully in the from the lineout finding open space to run into as the scrumhalf caught the Chipu backline out of position to allow his backs to run in an easy one to extend the lead to 22-12; a scary gap given the view from Kenya’s bench.

Kenya quickly struck back through impressive Kipchirchir, who had to fend off the attention of two markers to dot down, Juma missing the extra twos to make it a five point game, scores now 22-17.
Namibia then got a score off a a penalty in their attempt to score through the middle, finding touch on the five mater mark before hitting from the back of the efficient mauling machine to make for a 12 point difference, scores now 29-17.

The huge Southern Africans’ dominance at the set piece would continue showing, turning over possession in the scrum to take the scores to 32-17 from the resulting goal attempt with slightly under five minutes of play left. Kenya despite being out of comeback range continued coming at the defence for Kipchirchir to release Brian Kiptanui who scored on the left wing on the death for a 32-22 full time score.

Kenya next play hosts Zimbabwe Sunday evening while Tunisa and Namibia have a lunch time date to determine who will be in the finals.