Old Georgians lay down early marker in Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup

OLD Georgians (OGs) emerged as the biggest winners from the second round of matches in the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup with a hard-fought 32-23 victory over fellow title aspirants Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

After a number of one-sided affairs on the opening weekend last week, this weekend’s matches were more competitive and entertaining affairs as the players showed better competitive match fitness after a long period on the side-lines.

The highlight of the day was the clash between OGs and Sportivo, an encounter which in the past has always produced fireworks.

And it was no different this time around as the encounter lived up to its billing as Harare Sports Club initially threatened to run all over their opponents before OGs regrouped took control of the match.

With the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup also serving as preparation for the Currie Cup First Division, where Zimbabwe will play as the Goshawks, a good number of players raised their hands for selection, notably OGs’ scrum-half Carlos Matamana who was swift at recycling and disturbing the ball.

Harare Sports club started the match like a house fire dominating in all aspects of the match, especially at set-pieces and breakdowns in which they inflicted a lot of turnovers.

Harare Sports Club held a slender 16-15 lead at the break after scoring a converted try through Kudakwashe Nyamakura in addition to three penalties and a conversion by fullback Tadius Whata.

OGs, however, remained within touching distance of their opponents with tries from lock Takunda Kundishora and inside centre Munesu Muneta, while flyhalf Jeremiah Jaravaza chipped in with a penalty and a conversion.

After initially playing second fiddle in the first half, OGs returned from the break with more purpose as they managed to score three tries and a penalty to complete a comfortable victory.

Sportivo only managed to trouble the scores at the death when outside centre Kudzai Mashawi crashed over late in the game to put some respectability on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile in an earlier Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup match, Old Hararians were made to work hard for their win after beating a determined Harare Select side 36-14to maintain their unbeaten start to the competition.

The Old Boys, as Old Hararians are affectionately known by their fans took a 17-0 lead at the break but the young Harare Select side, made up mostly of Under-20 players hit back with two converted tries to move within three points of their opponents.

Old Hararians, however, showed their experience when it mattered the most to seal what ended up being a comfortable victory.