Epic duels close jamboree POWERPLAY. . . Prince Edward’s Nigel Mpofu has eyes on the white line as he goes for the Tigers second try against Churchill Bulldogs on Thursday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)
POWERPLAY. . . Prince Edward’s Nigel Mpofu has eyes on the white line as he goes for the Tigers second try against Churchill Bulldogs on Thursday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

POWERPLAY. . . Prince Edward’s Nigel Mpofu has eyes on the white line as he goes for the Tigers second try against Churchill Bulldogs on Thursday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
A Battle Royale is expected between Falcon College against Peterhouse while Prince Edward and St John’s College headline the final day of the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival this afternoon in what has been the most exciting jamboree in years.

The curtain comes down on the week-long festival that has largely lived up to expectations with several potentially thrilling encounters set for today.

The Mad Dogs of Falcon take on Peterhouse at 1.50pm on Prince Edward’s Jubilee Field with both sides yet to lose at this festival.

The Peterhouse Kings have played a game less and shown they have the potential of upsetting their Esigodini-based opponents.

In their opening game on Tuesday, Falcon College beat Churchill Bulldogs 21-7 in the main game of the day, before getting the better of Watershed College 74-0.

That alone, speaks volume of Falcon’s pedigree and in former Sables captain, Brandon Dawson, who was also in charge of the senior national men’s side last year, they have a shrewd coach.

Blessed with size and good handling skills, Falcon College will, however, underrate Peterhouse, who were 44-0 winners over MCC, at their peril.

Then comes the battle between the hosts and St John’s College, another big game every rugby enthusiast would love to watch and this will be the final game of this year’s edition of the festival. Like the Tigers, St John’s College are yet to lose, having come back from 0-10 down against St John’s College in the Battle of the Saints on Thursday to post a 17-10 win by scoring 17 unanswered points. And this followed a 27-5 win over Eaglesvale.

The Churchill’s battle against St George’s College is another game to watch despite the fact that the Bulldogs have lost all their games so far and the Dragons are just coming from a loss at the hands of St John’s College Rams.

Brandon Brider’s Dragons were surely not the same side that destroyed MCC on Tuesday, both in terms of flair, skill and composition as some of the players had been rested against the weak Gweru-based side.

Tigers’ vice-captain, Ernest Mudzengerere, knows what the Rams can offer and he feels his boys are going to give it their best shot so that they get into the official schools rugby league season on a high.

“They are a very good side, we have watched them play all their games and there is no doubt as to what they are capable of doing.

“We have to show up on the day and continue with the good form, carry on from our win against Churchill.

“No doubt Churchill were a tough side as well, they are very physical, but I am sure that if we are able to use our forwards against St John’s College, like we did against Churchill, then we will have a good game.

“I am happy that we have a very mobile pack and our backline has a lot of pace. But at the end of the day we just have to respect our opponents and not get over-confident,” said Mudzengerere.

But it’s not just on Jubilee Field where action will be exploding.

Petra are also hoping to maintain an unbeaten run this year when they take on LKC of Botswana this morning, first having caused a huge upset when they beat Hillcrest 14-12 in their first game before a 12-0 win over Gateway.

Today’s Fixtures

Jubilee Field: Allan Wilson v Plumtree, Hellenic v LKC, Hillcrest v Watershed, MCC v Eaglesvale, Kyle v Lomagundi, Falcon v Peterhouse, Churchill v St George’s College, Prince Edward v St John’s College.

Avenues Field: Benard Mzeki v Goromonzi, Gateway v Heritage, Gifford v Mazowe, Petra v Ellis Robbins, St Ignatius v Kutama, Milton v Mutare.

Chapel Field Under-16: St George’s v Kyle, Churchill v Eaglesvale, Watershed v Lomagundi, St John’s College v Prince Edward, Vainona 1st v St Johns Chikwaka 1st, Murehwa 1st v Victoria High 1st, St John’s High 1st v Marondera High 1st.

Rhodes Field Under-16: Goromonzi v Victoria High, Milton v Petra, Gifford v Hillcrest, St John’s High v Vainona, Murehwa v Bernard Mzeki, Plumtree v MCC, Heritage v Gateway.

Sable Field: Zengeza 4 v Tafara 2, Dzivaresekwa 1 v Dzivaresekwa 2, Nhohwe v Mandedza, SOS Bindura v Marlborough, St John’s Chikwaka v Mazowe, Marondera v Mbare Academy, Allan Wilson v Kutama.

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