Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe (5) 22-41 (27)Namibia
GHOSTS of their 2024 Barthes Trophy campaign returned to haunt the Zimbabwe Under-20 side as they once again put individual glory over the collective good.
For the opening 40 minutes, the Junior Sables’ players sought to impress the home crowd rather than play as a unit, much to the chagrin of gaffer Shaun De Souza.
Namibia were this time the beneficiaries of such sloppy play as they took a 22-point lead in the first-half of the game.
Zimbabwe came back a different side after the breather and almost clawed their way back.
However, it ended up being a classic case of too little, too late.
The end result was a 41-22 win for Namibia to kick off their 2025 Barthes Trophy on a positive note.
Those who braved the cold weather to come in their numbers to Old Hararians Sports Club went home a disappointed lot.
Zimbabwe started the game brightly with lock Tafara Dewa touching down an unconverted try for the first points of the match.
Namibia responded resoundingly as a brace from winger Jurgen Meyer and tries from lock Pieter Lut-tig, Petrus Tromp and Alejandro Morkel saw the visitors surge ahead.
The lead could have been bigger were it not for some atrocious kicking.
Flyhalf Maugham Jarman’s only meaningful contribution of the half with the boot was a penalty that opened the floodgates for the visitors.
Bongani Ndlovu