tawandamusarurwa
Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Lady Cheetahs were yesterday the focal point of the opening day of the Sable Chicken Summer Sevens rugby series and put up dominant performances at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Stadium.
The two-day tournament is part of a two-week Sevens’ rugby bonanza that will culminate in the Zambezi Challenger Series set for this weekend – again at the same venue.
It will see national teams – the Cheetahs and Lady Cheetahs – test their mettle against Botswana and Zambian teams.
Both teams are using these two tournaments to fine-tune their preparations for their Africa Cup assignments in Uganda at the end of the month.
While their male counterparts did not take part in the Summer Series yesterday, the Lady Cheetahs divided their squads into two teams, which played as Cheetahs Black and Cheetahs White.
Both teams came out of the opening day’s play largely unscathed.
The Cheetahs White, placed in Pool A, beat Harare Province 27-0 and Matabeleland 5-0.
Similarly, Cheetahs Black made light work of Bulawayo 43-0 and Manicaland 52-0.
In the absence of Lady Cheetahs coach Derek Chiwara, his assistant Charity Mucucuti took charge of the Cheetahs Black team.
“Both sets of teams performed very well, and the fact that both teams are relatively strong makes for an interesting dynamic,” said Mucucuti.
“I am looking forward to the final when they actually meet.
“The result itself does not really matter, as the ultimate goal is to fine-tune our preparations and do well at the Africa Cup.
“Match fitness is what we wanted to give the girls with this tournament.
“In a day, a team can play something between three to five games, and that is something we cannot replicate in training and camp.
“We wanted to give the girls a good run in this tournament and also see how we fare when we meet Zambia’s national team.”
Zambia, much like the Lady Cheetahs, are also taking part in the Africa Cup.
Mucucuti’s sentiments were echoed by Zimbabwe co-captain Lindiwe Munerenyu, who is playing for Cheetahs White.
“I think we had a good start and I am personally looking forward to the final.
“We look to be the stronger of the two (Lady) Cheetahs’ sides and all that is needed now is correct a few areas before we get to play during the final,” she said.
Before the two sides meet in the final, they will have to replicate their opening day’s performance in today’s semi-final.
Cheetahs White will play Bulawayo in the first semi-final, after which Cheetahs Black will square up against Harare.
The senior men’s category also went according to script, with Old Georgians and Harare Sports Club putting up dominant performances as well.
Harare Sports Club beat Zimbiru 19-15 and Old Crestonians 40-0 in their opening ties of Pool A, while OGs also dismissed Mutare 28-0 and Harare Select 38-0 in their Pool B fixtures.
The only upset of the day belonged to Old Hararians, who lost their opening match to hosts Red Lions (7-17) before bouncing back to beat Mabvuku 37-7.
The men’s category will wrap up their group games this morning, after which they will move on to the knock-out phase of the competition.
It is the tops teams from this tournament who will then move on to the Zambezi Challenger Series.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter