Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PITBULLS have come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders as the reigning Harare Under-20 rugby champions look to defend their crown.
After three rounds, coach Geoff Madhake’s charges top the log standings with a perfect 15 points from their opening three games.
The three-time champions have scored 153 points and conceded 39, giving them a healthy 114-point difference.
Newboys Zambezi Steelers, are second with the same number of points but they have only scored 102 and conceded 39 points.
For Madhake, it is probably the kind of start he had wanted as they look to defend their title.
“Yeah, it’s been a good start to the season and I am very proud of the boys,” said Madhake.
“Three wins out of three games is a good start, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves as this is a very young crop of players, and there’s still much to learn and much to perfect,” Madhake said.
The Pitbulls are fresh off a mauling of Harare Sports Club, who they beat 48-10 in a round three match at Old Georgians over the weekend.
It was an action-packed day of rugby action as Steelers also walked away 41-27 victors over hosts Old Georgians while Old Hararians made light work of Marondera Talons 34-8.
This left the Pitbulls and Steelers as the only undefeated teams in the elite division and at the top of the log standings.
Old Hararians are third with 11 points while the Marondera Talons, Old Georgians and Harare Sports Club wrap up the standings with five, one and zero points respectively.
Pitbulls and Steelers are set to face off in a top-of-the-table clash at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
And Madhake, believes that this particular match will be the first real test for either side this season.
“It should be an exciting tie, our first real test of the season.
“They are a very good side, mainly comprised of the Zimbabwe Under-20 national team that was on duty in Dubai late last year.
“We only had two players in that team while the majority of them came from the Steelers.
“They are tried and tested and should give us a good run for our money,” he said.
Madhake, however, has confidence in his charges and has promised a high-octane encounter.
“We are no slouches though.
“My team has a very strong forward pack and the backs are good too.
“We have been rather good at set pieces, and a team like the Steelers should really test all our departments,” he said.
He did express reservations about kicking an area that could probably determine the match this weekend.
“While the kicking has not been up to scratch across the board, I can only speak for my team.
“We left way too many points on the pitch during our encounter against Harare Sports Club.
“If I’m not mistaken, we missed about three conversions in the first-half and an additional three in the second, which is not a good count.
“I remember we even talked about it with my kickers, where they were moving and shaking the hips during the run-up, and it affected their accuracy.
“It is important not to be too harsh on them, as they are still schoolboys, but we will spend the week practising and perfecting our kicking ahead of the Steelers match,” added Madhake.
Harare Under-20 League results
Hatcliffe 20-0 Mbare Academy
Dzivarasekwa 53-10 Pioneers
Steelers 22-25 Pitbulls 2nd
Zimbiru 32-10 Harare Sports Cub
Old Hararians 10-5 Police
Crusaders 31-0 Lions
Talons 2nd 51-0 Knights
Pitbulls 48-10 Harare Sports Club
Rockstars 20-0 Mabvuku
Zimbiru 21-49 SDRA
Old Hararians 34-08 Talons
Old Georgians 17-41 Steelers
