Chronicle Editor
Grace Chingoma, Senior Sports Reporter
Kenya 10 – 64 Zimbabwe
THE Junior Sables claimed the bragging rights once again yesterday when they humiliated hosts Kenya at Nyayo Stadium and finished fifth in the World Under-20 Trophy.
Spain won this year’s competition and were promoted to the Championship after beating Uruguay 39 -32 in the final later in the day.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 national team were also celebrating after they got their biggest ever win and highest score in this competition, which they will relish for some time.
It was also the best finish ever for the Zimbabwean team which had in previous tournaments only managed seventh and eighth places, having previously participated in four World Junior Trophy editions.
The Junior Sables silenced the home crowd as the teams met for the second time in four months, bringing back memories of the Barthes Trophy when Zimbabwe triumphed over the East Africans at the same venue recently.
Zimbabwe, who started the World Rugby Trophy on a low note losing to Scotland and Uruguay, finished strongly as they got the better of USA and Kenya to secure a fifth place out of eight countries that competed in the World Trophy.
Head coach Shaun De Souza believes their ability to regroup ensured the victory yesterday.
“What a way to end the event. It all went according to plan after the first plan fell apart when we lost our first two games to Scotland and Uruguay. We actually regrouped then looked at our strategies for the last two games which were USA and then the playoff.
“. . . then we got to play the fifth play off versus Kenya the hosts, in a packed Nyayo Stadium. We knew that the crowd was going to come and support them but we also felt like their crowd is also our crowd.
“We have played here two years in a row, we have won two Barthes trophies in the same stadium so we don’t have pressure of environment.
“We just felt like we were comfortable in the settings and we felt like the home team. The plan worked, we played test match rugby in the beginning, and we set up a platform going forward and we took our opportunities when they were available to us and we put points on the board and kept the scoreboard ticking” said De Souza.
Zimbabwe got their first try in the ninth minute through Tawanda Matipano, who improvised from a loose pass to kick ahead and touch down in the right hand corner after an impressive turn of pace.
In the 17th minute, Matipano was back to haunt the hosts after he got another try after capitalising on a powerful cross from Shingi Manyarara to score in the same corner.
Dion Khumalo and Tadiwa Chinwada added more tries before the half time.
Zimbabwe extended their lead in the second-half with further scores from Manyarara and Simba Kanyangarara before the Junior Sables suffered a blow when Khumalo was red carded for a dangerous tackle.
Kenya scored first try from the resulting penalty but this did not deter a determined Zimbabwean side. They capped the day with a try from Shadreck Mandaza towards the end.
Zimbabwe were in the same pool as Uruguay who are this year’s runner up, Scotland who won bronze and USA who finished seventh with a 47 – 22 win over Hong Kong.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Ngobile Manyara, Bryan Chiang, Tadiwa Chinwada, Tamuka Kambani, Tanaka GondoMukandapi, Muzuva Gutu, Hagler Muchenje, Shingi Manyarara, Simba Kanyangarara, Edward Sigauke, Alex Nyamuda, Dion Khumalo, Tawanda Matipano, Benoni Nhekairo, Tanaka Ndoro.
Kenya: Geylord Ngasi, George Otieno, Mike Odour, Edmond Omondih, Andycole Omolo, Laban Kipsang, Vincent Omondii, Jacktone Omondi, Patrick Wainaina, Faran Juma, Alvin Mwamburi, Raphael Wanga, Michael Wamhamba, Victor Odhiambo, James Olela
Online Reporter