adminLeague derby tonight at Harare Sports Club.
The match is the main attraction of the night and starts at 7.50pm.
The first game will see Sports Club II taking on their Old Boys counterparts in the B-League before both sides’ women teams clash in the main curtain raiser of the night.
However, it is the game between hosts Sports Club and the Old Boys that is set to hog the limelight among the rugby followers tonight.
Having beaten the Old Boys in the first half of the season in a 43-5 thrashing of the old enemy in front of their home crowd, Sports Club are not going to make it easy for OH.
A week before taking on the Old Boys, Sports Club had suffered a defeat at the hands of Old Georgians, also in front of their home crowd, but quickly put their act together.
Sports Club rely on a heavy pack that includes Kudakwashe Kambasha on prop, flanker Shingi Mpofu and Owen Chiutare on number eight among others.
Their backline is equally destructive with the likes of Sables’ centre Danny Hondo, Tatenda Tela and Tangai Nemadire, on the wing, expected to steady the Sports Club ship.
But the trend among the big three in the NRL this season has been for the hosts to lose.
However, it will only be known after 80 minutes of play tonight if the Old Boys will be able to maintain the pattern.
Old Hararians’ manager Simba Khaka believes the Old Boys have what it takes to grab at least four points from Sports Club who are seated second on the log standings.
The Old Boys – coached by Max Madziva – are one place below Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge’s side who have only suffered one defeat in their campaign this season.
Almost a week after their 59-0 win over bottom-placed Panthers, Old Hararians believe that they will be able to maintain their winning streak.
“We are going into this game with the aim of coming out with a win. Not just any win but a win with a bonus point, meaning we need five points in this game.
“That has been how we have worked this season but it is unfortunate that some of the games did not go as we had planned and we ended up losing.
“But games between Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians have always been difficult, one cannot predict who is going to win because of the rivalry between us and Sports Club,” said Khaka.
Sports Club handed the Old Boys their defeat just in the second week of action and Khaka feels this is still fresh in the minds of his players.
“Of course that defeat is still in our minds but this is because it gave us a number of lessons that if we do not do certain things right, then we will not win.
“The players know each other very well and most of them keep the same social circles but when it comes to game time, all those relationships don’t come first.”
Khaka is banking on their winning run to give them a spring in their step.
“If we able to maintain the good play, like we did last week, then we can win because last week the forwards were compact and the defence was very good.”
But the Lions will definitely not make it easy for their rivals as a double over the Old Boys will make sure they maintain the momentum while keeping them on track for the league title.
In Bulawayo, action returns to Hartsfield Rugby Grounds when Zimbo Busters host Mutare Sports Club while Old Miltonians take on defending champions Old Georgians at the same venue.
Busters’ winger Lloyd Machangaira, Jafet Ndebele, Sanele Sibanda, Percy Ncube and former Zimbabwe Under-19 winger Terrence Kuvarega are expected to lead the hosts.
Fixtures
Tonight
Harare Sports Club v Old Hararians (7.50pm), Red Lions v Old Hararians (6pm), Sports Club Women v Old Hararians Women (7.30pm). – all games at Harare Sports Club.
Tomorrow
A-League
Airforce v Panthers (Manyame 3.30pm), Busters v Mutare (Hartsfield 2pm), Old Miltonians v Old Georgians (Hartsfield 3.30pm).
B-League
Police v Southern City (Manyame 1.40pm), Mabvuku v Swallows (Sports Club 12.40pm), Zvishavane v Busters (Zvishavane 3pm), Old Miltonians v Panthers (1pm), Thornhill v Bulldogs (Gweru 3.30pm).
Women:
Heels v Police (Hartsfield 3.10pm), Airforce v Busters (Manyame 3.30pm).
Online Reporter