Zimpapers Logo

Percival Sizara in JO’BURG, South Africa
OLD MUTUAL Zimbabwe age group rugby teams, the Under-18 and the Under-18 Academy, were given a rude awakening at the Coca-Cola Craven and Academy Weeks after humiliating losses in their opening games at St. Stithians College yesterday.

The Under-18 team succumbed to a 17-72 defeat to the Leopards at the Craven Week while the Academy side were thumped 62-14 by Golden Lions XV at the Academy Week to sum up a disappointing opening day for the Old Mutual Zimbabwe squads.

For the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18s, this was their 70th defeat at the Craven Week where they have won 39 times and drawn three times over 112 matches.

Yesterday, they were chasing the game from the start with flashes of brilliance that weren’t enough to counter the Leopards.

Trailing 20-7 at half-time, courtesy of a try by Tapiwa Marimira converted by Tinashe Hombiro, the Young Sables looked to be in it, but further lost their way in the second half in which the Leopards piled 52 more points.

“We persevered in the beginning, but I think after the first couple of tries people put their heads down and that’s where it all went downhill,” captain and flanker, Jack Charsley, said.

The Zimbabweans did have their moments with two unconverted tries from Mazvitaishe Nyamarebvu and Tadiwa Muchemwa.

But they lost their way when they were reduced to 14-men following the expulsion of winger Tafadziswa Bunu for dangerous tackling. Bunu is due to undergo a judiciary hearing where his sanction will be determined.

After the second half, when we scored our tries, that’s when I think the boys picked it up a bit more, but then once I saw what the score was towards the end and the red card I think they just put their heads back down,’’ the skipper said.

Leopards touched down 11 tries with seven conversions and scored a penalty. Meanwhile, the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Academy had an unpleasant debut at the Academy Week in a hugely one-sided affair against hosts Golden Lions XV.

Although centre Edwin Mutseyekwa and winger Siampunga Sindaza sunk in second half tries, the damage had already been done. The Zimbabweans were down 36-0 at half-time.

Taine Roelofsz converted both tries for the Junior Sables.

Coach Basil Dingiswayo felt his charges were not up to the task from the start.