From Paul Munyuki in PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa
Zimbabwe Under-18..........(7)31
Border CD Under-18.........(0) 9
ZIMBABWE got off to a positive start yesterday when they beat Border Country Districts 31-9 in their first game of the Craven Week rugby festival here at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Man-of-the-match, tight-head prop Brandon Scheepers, planted two tries in the second half to set up a good win for Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa’s side.
There was also a wonderful interception by centre Ian Watson that was supported with a good run to put his side in the lead.

Five tries from Scheepers (two) Ian Watson, Dale Gibbons and Bastien Mendelson and three conversions was all Zimbabwe needed for their win while Border CD could only respond with three second half penalties from fly half Lwazi Mqwelana.
Zimbabwe had most of their top players on the bench but those fielded yesterday were good enough to win.
Watson and man-of-the-match Scheepers got Zimbabwe going with the former making a wonderful interception, just inside the Border CD half, that gave Zimbabwe a 7-0 lead at the break.

The breakthrough came after flyhalf Fungai Mandivenga missed two penalties early in the first half as Zimbabwe spent more than 25 minutes camped in the Border CD half but they could not convert the pressure into points. Several chances came their way, with clear scoring chances, but it was in the danger zone that Zimbabwe failed to click, dropping balls and forward passing in the Border CD 22-metre area as the South Africans held on.


But in the last seven minutes of the half, Zimbabwe finally put the first points on the board after Watson intercepted a ball that was meant for Border CD’s Vuyisani  Babula from scrummy Chris Dyantyi.
Watson then made a good run to place under the posts and this was an easy conversion for Mandivenga to put Zimbabwe up 7-0.

With just five minutes into the second half, Zimbabwe got a penalty near the Border CD  five-metre line and kicked for touch, won their ball and mauled before Scheepers came off the blind for a try.

The lead was now 12-0.
And five minutes later, Zimbabwe continued with the attack that resulted in second centre Dale Gibbons extending Zimbabwe’s lead, following a three phase play, after scrummy Takudzwa Chakangesu off loaded to him in the Border 22 for a comfortable 19-0 lead.

Zimbabwe fullback, Russel Walder, made a try-saving tackle right on the try-line after Border CD winger, Likona Mabadane, broke loose on the right.

Teams
Zimbabwe: Justin Mavimba, Alex Zwart, Brandon Scheepers, John Burnett, Harry Roche, Shepherd Mhembere, Daniel Moolman, Leroy Sibanda, Takudzwa Chakaengesu, Fungai Mandivenga, Bastien Mendelson, Ian Watson, Dale Gibbons, Glen Hutchins, Russel Walder.
Border CD: Inga Mvumvu, Kwanele Ndiwabasini, Thabo Ngcem, SImanye Luzipo, Nkosinathi Dila, Rixi Thabang, Wandise Mtshingila, Sipho Tyali, Chris Dyantyi, Lwazi Maqwelana, Loyiso Mnwana, Sihle Gontshi, Inamandla Mpongwana, Likona Madabane, Sizwe Ncikana.