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The NRL is on a month long-break following Sables’ commitments in the Africa Cup Group 1A that is underway in Tunisia and the Victoria Cup tri-nation tournament which starts with an away encounter against Kenya on 28 July.
Former senior national men’s rugby team manager Noddy Kanyangarara, an official at the NRL yesterday said they have lined up a number of games to keep the players in shape.
“The provinces are hosting games, Harare is playing their Metro Challenge Cup and the MidMat League Championship is on. I think the bigger game during the break will be between Northern and Southern Region.
“Our league will resume on 18 August,” Kanyangarara said.
The MidMat League falls under the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board and includes lower division clubs from Gweru, Zvishavane and Bulawayo. The winner from the league will battle for a National Rugby League spot during play-offs set for the end of the season.
The MRFB chairman Tapiwa Mangezi yesterday said Hartsfield Stadium would on Saturday play host to Matabeleland against the Midlands Province clash.
Matabeleland Select who are coached by Rob Hunter will be drawn from the three National Rugby League clubs which are Matabeleland Warriors, Old Miltonians and Western Panthers.
“Our rugby action continues and with the fun that the sport continues to generate, we have seen it proper to have some games. We will play Mashonaland home and away after taking on Midlands here at Hartsfield with the return leg set for either Zvishavane or Gweru.
“We have to keep our players in shape because when the league resumes it will be battle for the top four while others fight relegation,” Mangezi said.
In the NRL, the star-studded Matabeleland Warriors are second on the log with 44 points from 10 outings and trail championship favourites Harare Sports Club who have played 11 matches by six.
For the Bulawayo club to play host to one of the semi-finals Warriors will have to finish their 14 matches either on top of the log or second.
From their remaining matches, Matabeleland Warriors have two away tricky encounters against third placed Old Hararians and Old Georgians who are on fourth position.
The other two games which the star-studded Bulawayo outfit will play will be against city rivals Western Panthers and they will bank on Lucky Sithole, Moses Makhiwa, Ozy Lynx, Dumi Bhebhe, Cheetahs and Sables’ fringe winger Lloyd Machanjaire, Velile Dube and Jafet Ndebele to lead them in the last four matches.
Online Reporter