Old Mutual Zim U-18 cap tour with win over Namibia

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14) 27 Namibia Under-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) 6 THE Old Mutual Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 capped off a fine display at this year’s Under-18 Coca-Cola Academy Week schoolboy rugby tournament with victory over Namibia at Paarl Gymnasium yesterday.

With the win, the Matthew Owuru captained Junior Sables ended the competition with a 100 percent winning record. They defeated South African Learners with Special Education Needs 29-27 last Monday and followed up that win with a 44-19 triumph over Blue Bulls Country Districts two days later. Both matches were played at Paarl Boys High School.

It was a brilliant show by the Scott Gray mentored lads who scored three tries, two conversions and three penalty goals. So impressive was the Zimbabwean defence that the Namibians only got their points from two penalty goals.

Lock Dylan Utete scored Zimbabwe’s first try with three minutes played. Tinashe Hombiro chipped in with the extra two points with a successful conversion.

Namibian fullback Aljarreau Zahl booted in a penalty goal in the 10th minute after Zimbabwe were pinned for being offside.

Wing Pride Gadzikwa produced a moment of brilliance to score the first of his two tries in the match, Hombiro on point with the conversion to put the Junior Sables 14-3 in the lead.

Zahl kicked in a long range penalty to reduce the deficit for his team but the Junior Sables led 14-6 at the break.

Gadzikwa completed his brace in the second half with Hombiro booting in two penalty goals. The Zimbabwean defence made sure that Namibia did not get any further points in the second period.

Prop Brendon Sibanda was voted Man of the Match, the third time in the tournament that a Zimbabwean player had picked up the award. Flank David Bore and skipper Owuru were the other Junior Sables players who got recognition for their outstanding performances during the Academy Week.

Yesterday’s win by the Junior Sables should serve as inspiration to the Zimbabwe Sables who take on Namibia in a Rugby Africa Gold Cup fixture at Hartsfield Rugby Ground on 4 August.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 against Namibia: ]Brendon Sibanda, Mudiwa Makanza, Adrian Zivanai, Ryan Dawson, Dylan Utete, Alce Melo, Matthew Owuru(captain), Makanakaishe Timba, Joshua Allardice(vice-captain), Tinashe Hombiro, Pride Gadzikwa, Jeffrey Antonio-Samuels, Ryan Mutandwa, Mufaro Chareka

Replacements: Anthony Mundangepfupfu, Declan Ralphs, Kudakwashe Mashonga, Clyde Muzengeza, David Bore, Michael Mhute, Victor Matarise, Brendan Muchopa

Coach: Scott Gray

Assistant coach: Basil Dingiswayo

Team manager: Simbarashe Dangah

— @Mdawini_29