adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
National Rugby League action resumes tomorrow after a week’s break with the match of the weekend probably being the Bulawayo derby between Western Panthers and Matabeleland Warriors at Hartsfield Stadium.
The match promises to be a thriller and rugby enthusiasts should brace for an entertaining game as semi- finals hopefuls Matabeleland Warriors will be out for revenge after losing the first leg 20-21.
The star-studded Matabeleland Warriors need just a win from their remaining two outings — against Western Panthers and Zvishavane Bulls — to secure a last four spot ahead of fourth-placed Old Miltonians who are left with two tough games against the reigning champions Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
Old Hararians, Old Georgians and defending champions Harare Sports Club have already qualified for the semi-finals with the last slot being a contest between Old Miltonians and Matabeleland Warriors.
Old Hararians who are second on the log with 54 points from 12 matches take on Old Miltonians in Bulawayo tomorrow while Harare Sports Club travel to Midlands for a date with Gweru Sports Club.
Old Miltonians are fourth on the log with 25 points, two ahead of their city rivals Matabeleland Warriors.
Rueben Kumpasa, the Matabeleland Warriors coach, said they are ready for Western Panthers.
He welcomes back captain Lloyd Machanjaire who has been out for three weeks due to a broken finger and veteran Cleopas Makotose who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Tapiwa “Endo” Mangezi who tore his knee ligament on national duty against Mauritius will miss the game as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
“We are taking the game against Western Panthers seriously and we do not want to repeat the same mistake we did in the first half of the season when our players underrated them leading to us losing the game 21-20. The good thing is that we have a strong squad and all our players who were injured are back at training.
“Our remaining matches appear relatively easy but we are going to fight to the best of our capabilities and make sure that we get a positive result. At this stage we cannot afford to slip because if we do, we will miss out on the semi-finals,” said Kumpasa.
He will bank on national team player Lucky Sithole, Ozzie Lynx, Jan Ferreira, Machanjaire and Kudzi Mutsekenyedzi.
Eighthman Martin Dutiro and winger Walter Gode are some of the Under-21 players that have been impressive for Matabeleland Warriors and are part of the squad that will face Western Panthers.
Western Panthers who are sixth on the log with 13 points have vowed to spoil the party for Matabeleland Warriors.
George “Coach Rollo” Mukorera, Western Panthers’ gaffer said most of his senior players trained on Wednesday and is confident that they will make it for their final training today.
“We are going to give them a good run for their money. We want to win this game at all costs because it has been a while since we last picked up maximum points. Our first leg win wasn’t a fluke and that’s what we want to show them,” said Mukorera.
Some of his seasoned players that have been attending training sessions include Tichaona Mupamhadzi, Kudakwashe Chimukuyu, Irvine “Bhuda” Nduwa, Busani Ncube and Silethokuhle “Slatter” Ndlovu.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Gweru Sports Club v Harare Sports Club (Gweru), Western Panthers v Matabeleland Warriors (Hartsfield), Old Miltonians v Old Hararians (Hartsfield)
Log
P W L D F A B/Pts Pts Total
Old Georgians 12 11 1 0 519 147 11 44 55
Old Hararians 12 11 1 0 715 164 10 44 54
Harare Sports
Club 12 8 4 0 621 180 10 32 42
Old Miltonians 12 4 6 2 215 363 5 20 25
Matabeleland
Warriors 12 4 7 1 270 343 5 18 23
***Western
Panthers 12 4 7 1 200 444 2 11 13
***Gweru
Sports Club 12 3 9 0 167 553 5 3 8
Zvishavane
Bulls 12 1 11 0 120 633 3 4 7
***Points deducted for use of an unregistered player
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