Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo,Zimpapers Sports Hub
OLD Miltonians (OMs) stamped their authority on local rugby with a dominant 41-22 demolition of bitter rivals Matabeleland Warriors at Hartsfield on Saturday, clinching the Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board Archer Clothing Rugby League title for the second year running.
The victory saw the Old Boys complete an invincible campaign, winning 10 of their 11 matches and dropping points only once — a 28-28 draw against Warriors earlier in the season.
Last year, OMs ended Warriors’ ten-year chokehold on the championship, and this weekend they proved it was no fluke. From the first whistle, they played with precision and power, leaving their rivals shell-shocked.
OMs opened the scoring with a penalty before Warriors hit back with a converted try to lead 7-3. The game see-sawed early on, with OMs missing penalties before their bruising forwards bullied their way over the line for a try to edge ahead 8-7.
Warriors briefly regained the lead with a drop goal, but OMs struck back just before halftime to go into the break 13-10 up.
The second half was all OMs. A quick try pushed them to 18-10, and a clinical converted try moments later all but sealed the contest at 25-10.
Warriors tried to rally, grabbing an unconverted try (25-15), but OMs were relentless, adding more points through a penalty and another try (33-15). Warriors responded with a converted try to make it 33-22, but it was too little, too late.
The champions closed out the show with a penalty and a final crushing try, sealing a historic back-to-back crown.
In the women’s league, Warriors Ladies lifted the title after blanking Western Suburbs Panthers 12-0.
Next on the rugby calendar is the Unforgettable Summer Sevens Series, promising even more hard-hitting action.
Blessing Chizhande