adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
OLD GEORGIANS coach and former Cheetahs backliner Grant Mitchell has hailed new National Rugby League champions Old Hararians who grabbed the title with a 29-27 win on Saturday. At one point, the Dragons were leading 24-9, but they could not hold on to the lead, allowing the Old Boys to get back into the game as they staged one of the best comebacks in the league’s recent history.
And this was the Old Boys first league title in eight years.
However, Mitchell feels that the Old Boys deserve credit for the fighting spirit they exhibited as they scored 20 points in response to Old Georgians’ penalty in the second half on their way to being crowned champions.
“A team with its backs to the wall and under pressure is always dangerous, and credit to OH for not giving up. They came back and fought intelligently,” Mitchell told The Herald yesterday.
The last time OH had won any rugby title in Zimbabwe was in 2005 and they surely were determined to bounce back and be the top side in Zimbabwe this year, scooping a lot of top rugby names in the country. Mitchell said despite having taken a half-time lead, his side knew the job was not yet done yet.
“The team was very calm at half-time and knew that the job was not over. There was never at any stage, an acceptance of victory before the match had finished.
“Their substitutions worked well for them.
“Taku Chieza and Gardner Nechironga made the right impact they needed,” said the fitness and conditioning specialist.
The Dragons looked fitter, and better conditioned than the Old Boys but they failed to use this to their advantage as Old Boys proved technically superior .
However, Mitchell is happy with how his side played this season, finishing as the second best team in the country and as the only side that beat the Old Boys.
“The players were well prepared and mentally focused for the match. We focused on applying pressure in the right areas and it paid off with the four tries.”
Online Reporter