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Daniel Hondo

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
SEVEN weeks after the National Rugby League took an extended break due to financial problems, the competition will this afternoon resume with a top-of-the-table clash between Harare giants and log leaders Harare Sports Club and former champions Old Georgians.The game kicks-off at 3.30pm at Harare Sports Club.

Sports Club have picked up their best form in two years and have done themselves a huge favour by winning all but one of their games so far, their worst performance being a 14-14 draw away to Busters at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.

But two years ago at this stage, Sportivo were yet to suffer a defeat.

On the other hand the Dragons Have suffered only one defeat and this has come at the hands of Sportivo and are second with 31 points, seven adrift  of the leaders which means any result today would not change a thing at the top.

But there is a lot at stake as the league is just entering the second round stretch anything could happen and Red Lions manager Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare knows they have to work hard to realise their dream.

“We would like to get a home semi-final and a home final and if we do not work hard life for us in the league might prove tough. Two years ago we were on top of the league standings at this stage but all that was because of wins, we had no defeat and we had no draw, but this year we have recorded a draw so we have to work twice as hard if we are to win the league.

“Given the long break we are likely going to have a slow start, we have had a couple of friendly games during the break but these have not been competitive,” said Chiutare.

Old Georgians coach Grant Mitchell is happy to have some of his players back after they recovered from injuries during the long break, notably winger Kudakwashe Chiwanza, who was ruled out just after the first game of the season.

“Kudakwashe Chiwanza was injured in our first game of the season against Mutare Sports Club, he is a very dedicated player and he has worked hard with his rehabilitation.
“He is fully fit now and will be part of our starting XV as well. But we will be missing some of our players who are part of the Zimbabwe Under-20 side (for the Junior Africa Cup in Namibia). As a squad we shifted our mindset to see the break as an advantage to our preparations.

“It gave players an opportunity to recover from niggles,” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union general manager.

But for Harare Sports Club, the break has been too long and they feel the two months they have had without competitive rugby will affect them.

“We have been practising all along, it was a long break and now it’s like we are making a fresh start to the league so we have to forget about how we played in the first half,” said Chiutare

“Obviously, it was a chance for us to look at our weaknesses, work on them and it was also a chance for us to look at the strengths of the opposition and how we can counter them as well.

“But for us to prosper in the second round I feel that we have to forget about what happened in the first half, we are obviously the team to beat in the league given our record and we know that all the teams are working hard to topple us.”

Captained by Daniel Hondo, the Red Lions are likely to remain unchanged for the second half as Chiutare indicated that they have not had any major changes to the squad.

Fixtures

Today: Harare Sports Club v Old Georgians (Harare Sports Club 3.30pm), Zvishavane Bulls v Old Hararians ( Mc Adam 3.30pm), Gweru v Western Panther (Gweru Sports Club 2pm), Old Miltonians v Mutare Sports Club (Hartsfield Rugby Grounds 3.30pm).