Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
GOLD CUP project manager Duane Heath believes the Old Georgians’ display against Old Hararians on Saturday justified their status as Zimbabwe’s best bet for the South African club rugby competition. The Dragons turned on a superb show for a 39-17 win over the Old Boys to become Zimbabwe’s first club to take part in the South African club competition. It was a display full of courage, skill, and strength.

“Based on what I have seen, Old Georgians are Zimbabwe’s best bet for the Gold Cup.

“Old Georgians are well on their way to emulating the kind of conditioning that they are going to need to play against some of the South African sides especially the two that are coming here to Zimbabwe,” said Heath.

Man-of-the-Match, fly-half Lenience Tambwera, once again starred for OGs by scoring 24 points — two tries, two penalties and four conversions while Boyd Rouse also weighed in with a brace of touch downs.

Five tries — four of them converted – and two penalties is all the Groombridge-based side needed for their victory while the Old Boys managed two converted tries and a penalty, but that was not good enough to earn them a place into the Gold Cup.

The first half was evenly balanced and going into the break the Dragons were leading 10-0 after Tambwera had opened the scoring with a penalty that was followed by a converted try.

“Based on what I have seen, I think Old Georgians are going to do Zimbabwe proud in the tournament and I am very excited to work with them.

“I think they will be very competitive, but what’s left now for them is to prepare properly especially in terms of conditioning and general fitness.

“The South African sides will be very strong and fit. I am sure now that their (OGs) focus will peak towards the Gold Cup,” said Heath.

The Dragons deservedly partied into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

This is a side that lost to Harare Sports Club in the Harare Province Rugby League final last year, and the defeat came with a number of lessons for the Dragons as they hardly took a break in the off-season and went on to make good acquisitions.

Under the guidance of former Cheetahs player, Grant Mitchell, the Dragons are yet to suffer defeat this year and their off-season sacrifice has finally paid off with the sole Gold Cup ticket going their way.

But OGs captain Kingsley Lang said they knew it would not come easy for the Groombridge-based side.

“It was a very difficult game especially in the first half when OH played tough. We knew they would, but we just wanted to weather the storm and stick to our structures and we knew we could get there if we kept playing.

“In the second half it was about cutting on penalties playing in the right areas and our structures helped.

“We are not only going there (Gold Cup) as OGs, but we represent Zimbabwe as a country and we have a lot (of responsibility) on our shoulders.

“We have qualified for the Gold Cup, but there is still a long way to go in the league,” said Lang.

Early in the second half, Old Hararians hit back with a converted try before the two sides exchanged penalties.

Then the Dragons went on a rampage, scoring four tries before Old Hararians responded with one deep into the second half but, Old Georgians had done enough damage.

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