Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
PANTHERS and Highlanders rugby clubs are confident that they will be able to punch above their weight when they face defending champions Matabeleland Warriors and log leaders Old Miltonians (OMs), respectively, in their play-offs match of the 2024 Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRF) Archer Clothing Rugby League later this week.
Panthers booked their place in the play-offs after securing a third place finish in the round robin stage of the league which came to an end last Saturday.
The George “Rollo” Mukorera-mentored Panthers team managed to accumulate 11 points from the eight matches they played in the round robin stage and concluded it with a convincing win over Highlanders in their last match.
With a tricky test ahead, Mukorera was confident that they would be able to get one over the defending champions. “These guys have experience, we are going to be the underdogs but what I promise is that we are going to give them a run for their money at the end of the day. Because the same applies to us, we are looking to be on that final,” said Mukorera after their game against Highlanders.
The winner between Panthers and Warriors will go on to face the winner in the other playoff match that pits log leaders Old Miltonians and fourth placed Highlanders.
Having lost against Panthers in their last game of the round robin stage, Highlanders coach Silethokuhle “Slater” Ndlovu is relishing the opportunity of facing Mukorera’s men again. Highlanders won the first leg against Panthers before the latter secured victory in the second leg.
Ndlovu believes whoever wins their third encounter will walk away with the bragging rights.
“We will meet again, I assure you, we will. We beat them once and they also beat us, now we want the final. The game that we will play as a final where we know that in 2024, who is the better side between us and them. But, they won’t beat us the third time, we will be ready for them.
“In the playoffs, we are not scared of anyone, whoever comes we play. I hope the guys will come for training because it’s not yet over,” said Ndlovu. Following the completion of action last Saturday, teams were given a week to recuperate as they prepare for the knockout stage of the league.
There was no action yesterday and matches will resume this coming Saturday at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds. Only one point separated OMs and Warriors at the top of the standings with the former finishing on 35 points while the latter had 34.
Both OMs and Warriors won seven games apiece while losing just once in the eight matches they played. OMs, however, managed to accumulate seven bonus points while their nemesis, Warriors got six. OMs’ only defeat came in their final round-robin encounter and it was Warriors who got one over them. Warriors won the match 22-15.
Warriors’ solitary loss also came against OMs, losing the first match they played against each other 16-12.
Panthers went into the break and effectively the play-offs high in confidence having beat Highlanders 47-12 in their last game. Panthers, therefore, finished on 16 points, eight ahead of Highlanders who had eight points to their names.
From Panthers’ 16 points, four were bonus points while Highlander got none. Panthers had three wins and five defeats while Highlanders managed to win on a couple of occasions while losing six time.
Anchoring the league table is Bulldogs who finished on six points with one win (plus two bonus points) and seven defeats. – @brandon_malvin
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