‘Breaks killing rugby league momentum’

Prince Edward School and the games that were expected to take place at that time were postponed to last week.
Old Hararians last week played a scrappy 12-12 draw against Bul­awayo giants Matland Warriors while Sports Club put up a poor show despite beat­ing Gweru Sports Club.
The Old Boys, Harare Sports Club, Old Georgians and the Warriors cemented their places in the league semi-final games set for this week­end.
Old Hararians will face Sports Club at the Lions Den on Saturday while the game between the War­riors and Old Georgians is likely to be staged in Harare despite the Bul­awayo side hav­ing home advantage.
Madziva believes the poor show by his side last weekend is some­thing they would love to quickly for­get and focus on the semi-final game against bitter rivals Harare Sports Club.
“We really were very scrappy, our decision making and awareness were poor and at the same time we did not take the few chances that came our way. We are going to play against Sports Club and our games against Sports Club are always tense and tight and yesterday (Tuesday) we had a chance to work on some of the poor things at the training session.
“But the big problem that made all the top teams put up a poor show on Saturday was the fact that there are too many breaks in the league and some­thing has to be done about that.
“There was another long break when the Sables went for the Africa Cup and there was the Challenge Cup of which when the Sables returned club players who play for the Sables were not allowed to play.
“This kills the momentum of the teams and players lose match fitness and as such this is why there was a lot of scrappy play last weekend and that is not healthy given the stage that the league is at now.
“But as Old Hararians I am sure we are ready for the semis because we have no option but to focus on the upcoming game which is very impor­tant for us,” said the former Sables player.
By half time, the Old Boys and the Warriors were tied on 0-0 and this was the first time the league regis­tered a pointless first half, reflecting the poor standard of play.
It was only in the 65th minute of the game that the first points were recorded on the scoreboard when Matabeleland Warriors prop Kudzai Mudzekenyedzi crushed over for an unconverted try. Old Boys quickly responded with an unconverted Paul Jessub try and soon took the lead through substitute wing Chris Tutani with a converted try but it was not to be a win for the hosts as the Warriors equalised late in the game.
“This is what we would like to avoid on Saturday, we are not under pressure because really not many people are expecting us to win com­pared to Sports Club who have won most of their games,” Madziva said.

Fixtures
NRL semi-finals: Harare Sports Club v Old Hararians (Harare Sports Club), Warriors v Old Georgins.