It’s OMs’ time!! Old Boys rewrite the script as they beat Warriors to win league

HAVE you ever heard of extra time in rugby?

A GOLDEN point in extra time had to separate Matabeleland Warriors and old boys, Old Miltonians (OMs) in the final of the 2024 Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Archer Clothing Rugby League that was played at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Saturday.

It was OMs who scored a penalty in the early stages of the extra time to be crowned the new champions of Bulawayo rugby.

You heard that right, OMs beat Warriors 16-13 to land their hands on the title in a game that lived up to derby standards.

As OMs players stormed the field in celebration, the Warriors technical bench couldn’t believe what had just transpired. During their playing days it was unheard of, they had lost to OMS in a final for the first time in over a decade.

Even for the OMs bench, it felt like a dream. They, neither, couldn’t believe that they had done the impossible. They wrote their own history in front of a packed Hartsfield.

Only two points separated the two giants of local rugby. At the end of the day, it was OMs who reigned supreme, they won the derby, their second victory over their old foes this season.

However, the Warriors faithfuls felt hard done by the referee of the day, Mike Zvakauyapano, crying foul over some decision that he made but that wasn’t to matter much.

OMs director of rugby, Nelson Madida was at loss of words at full time. He couldn’t beat Warriors as a player but finally managed to get one over the old foes as a coach and for him, that feeling is great.

He said Saturday’s result is a fulfilment of a dream that started last year.

“This dream didn’t start today, it started last year when we as the old boys actually came in and said we need to rewrite history and fix our wrongs. We came so close many times to take this trophy but we never did, it’s been a decade. And, to actually come back as old boys and recruit these fine young gentlemen to have that heart and the heart has been the foundation of the team and we conquered today.

“That’s something amazing, something that will never express in any way but excitement, I am sure you saw us jumping around the field, it was to relive that moment of way back that we couldn’t achieve but managed to achieve as coaches. It’s amazing to be honest, I am out of words,” said Madida.

He added that their victory was a step into a bright future.

“We have a very young squad, we have 19-year-old boys that are coming into the system and for us this win is just one step to the future of where we want to go. The biggest foundation for us will be to be kings of Matabeleland rugby and once we set that foundation, we will start working to be national champions,” said Madida.

Warriors accepted defeat but felt it was not the true reflection of what transpired. Coach Aubrey Dube was not happy with the officiating and he believes that it was the game changer. However, he added that his opponents put in the work throughout the season and deserved to win.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow but OMs have worked for it, so I think they are deserved winners. But before today’s match, we had never lost to them but it’s sport. Congratulations to OMs, they really deserved it.

“But, you know, on the note of the game, the refereeing was appalling. I have played in South Africa, I have played all over but today’s refereeing is . . . The guy is a sitting board member at Old Miltonians, a former Old Miltonian. Still, take nothing away for OMs, they deserved it but I think the refereeing was appalling. I don’t know, you saw that try that the whole stadium saw that it was not a try but we were meant to be more clinical and it happens, it’s the nature of the sport, congratulations to OMs,” said Dube.

Warriors were the first to go in front as early as the third minute with a try from Tawanda Takawira, however, couldn’t add more point from the kicking tee, leaving the score at 5-0.

Minutes later, OMs responded with a try by Beglad Nekati and like their opponents, they couldn’t convert and scores were tied at 5-5.

Warriors then scored a penalty towards the final stages of the first half to lead 8-5. The teams went to the break when Warriors was leading 8-5.

Both sides were forced, in the first half to make injury inspired changes with Warriors making one while OMs made two.

A penalty for OMs before the hour mark helped them level scores 8-8 before they went in front with a try that the Warriors protested but it was the referee who had the final say. With no hard contact, the defending cried foul that they had control and Zvakauyapano should have called for a scrum.

With the try, OMs led 13-8 and as the game looked set to end like that, Kholwani Moyo crossed the try-line to bring the game back into life and it was 13-13 after Warriros couldn’t convert their final try.

Eighty minutes would end with the scores exactly level and that was when the two teams headed into extra time where a golden point had to separate them.

OMs got a penalty and their kicker, made no mistake from the kicking tee and that was the last play, making it 16-13.

Saturday’s match marked the end of the league which had been ongoing for over three months and the BMRFB chairman, Carrington Busili was pleased with the way things went.

“The league, as expected has shown that teams have grown, building up from the 2023 league. The teams have gotten a lot hungrier, each and every team that participated in the league managed to show a level of growth. Even the competition was stiff as evidenced by this final,” said Busili.

The match which was played before the final was also highly entertaining game.

Panthers proved too strong for Highlanders with a 43-22 win in the third place playoff match. Going into the game, Panthers and Highlanders had also played against each other twice, both winning once and it was Panthers who managed to walk away with the bragging rights.

Panthers coach George “Rollo” Mukorera was pleased with his youthful team and believes the future looks bright.

“The boys played very well, I’m an extremely proud of them. Their performance today is a sign of a good future for our club and from here, things can only get better. They executed our game plan pretty well and any coach would be proud of what these boys have achieved,” said Mukorera.

Despite the defeat, Highlanders coach Silethokuhle “Slater” Ndlovu was happy with how they played on the final day of the league.

“A bit of better rugby was played today. The better part about Panthers is that they’ve always been together but we only had two sessions as a team but four of my players didn’t pitch up today. I accept the defeat but I always stay positive that next time we will do better,” said Ndlovu.

Matabeleland Warriors ladies team won the women’s championship, completing an invincible season. They beat Highlanders 21-0 in the final.

@brandon_malvin