Goshawks raring to record first Currie Cup victory

AFTER two consecutive defeats in the opening encounters of the 2023 Currie Cup First Division, the Zimbabwe’s development rugby team, Goshawks are in high spirits ahead of today’s match at Harare Sports Club.

The Goshawks are set to go up against the in-form Johannesburg-based side Valke and will be hoping to get back to winning ways.

Zimbabwe are competing in their second successive season in South Africa’s second tier domestic competition, which is now also known as the Mzansi Challenge.

The Goshawks’ participation at the start of the event was in doubt after forfeiting their first three matches against Leopards (Saturday, March 25), Eastern Province (April 1) and Boland Cavaliers (April 8) due to financial constraints.

Zimbabwe kick-started their campaign with a narrow 31-26 loss against Namibia’s Windhoek Draught Welwitschias at Harare Sports Club on April 15 before putting on a good show despite their 31-25 loss against American outfit San Clemente Rhinos in Cape Town last Saturday.

Chronicle managed to catch up with the head coach, Brendan Dawson at Harare Sports Club yesterday as the team winded down their preparations for today’s match and the former Sables captain is confident that his boys will bring in the fight in today’s game.

Despite losing the two matches and coming into the tournament late, Dawson is impressed with the level of commitment that his charges have displayed so far.

“The preparations went well this week and we had good sessions, we put something nice together and hopefully they can bring it forward in tomorrow’s game. Like I said previously, I am very happy with where we are, we have done well and exceptionally well against Namibia (playing as Windhoek Draught Welwitschiasand) and Rhinos, losing by six and five points is good rugby for us considering they have played four, five games each and we haven’t so I think we are in a really good space,” said Dawson.

Sables’ captain, Hilton Mudariki is also captaining the Zimbabwean development side, which is dominated by uncapped players and a handful of experienced players.

The 31-year-old scrum-half is one of only four players with previous Currie Cup or international experience along with loose forwards Aiden Burnet and Tonderai Chiwambutsa as well as backs Takudzwa Musingwini and Russel Dinha.

Dawson said they are expecting a tough challenge from their “big” opponents who are likely to use their stature to their full advantage. He added that the new faces in the team who do not have that much experience have adapted nicely and it is a good learning curve for them.

“It’s going to be a typical South African side, big driving forwards and are going to use their weight and sizes as their weapon but we are prepared for that and we are expecting a really hard, up front physical game.

“The new guys have adapted nicely and come to the game nicely and it’s a learning curve for all of them to be able to play with this pace and intensity. It has been good for them and they should just continue to learn,” he said.

The Currie cup matches will give the Zimbabwean players the much needed game time, exposure and understanding of the game. Dawson added that he wants to see his boys give their all on the field and try to stop the South Africans on their tracks so that they can play their game.
– @brandon_malvin