adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
OLD Miltonians will this afternoon play in a decisive National Rugby League match when they lock horns with Matabeleland Warriors at Hartsfield Stadium.
The Bulawayo derby, which is likely to determine Old Miltonians’ fate in the National Rugby League semi-finals, is set to be a thriller.
Matabeleland Warriors, last season’s losing finalists, still have an outside chance of making it into the top four and a convincing victory over a determined Old Miltonians outfit will see them reviving their semi-final dream.
Matabeleland Warriors are fifth on the log with 19 points from 10 games and trail their opponents who are on position four and have played a game more by five points.
While Matabeleland Warriors will be hoping to recover from their last weekend’s 10-36 home defeat to defending champions Harare Sports Club, Old Miltonians will look forward to maintaining their winning momentum having dispatched Zvishavane Bulls 35-18.
In their last meeting, the two Bulawayo clubs played to a 27-27 draw.
Rueben Kumpasa, the Matabeleland Warriors gaffer, said he will be without three of their key players Lloyd Machanjaire who broke a finger, Cleopas Makotose through a hamstring injury and Tapiwa ‘Endo’ Mangezi who tore his knee ligament.
Kumpasa said they were on a rebuilding exercise and pressure was on Old Miltonians.
“For us we are just going there to play our usual game and I think this is more of a decider for Old Miltonians because if they lose we will catch up and they really don’t want that. Some of our players will miss the game due to injuries and we are going to field most of our Under-21 players who have done well during our rebuilding exercise.
“We lost a number of players due to work commitments and now we are doing with these youngsters with the hope of reaping rewards in the next three to four years. If ever we make it for the semi-finals, it is going to be a bonus for us,” Kumpasa said.
National team player Lucky Sithole will captain the Matabeleland Warriors squad which will also bank on the experience of Ozzie Lynx, Jan Ferreira and Kudzi Mutsekenyedzi.
The availability of Durban-based Biselele Tshamala who was in the country last week hangs in the balance.
Fixtures
Today: Western Panthers v Harare Sports Club (Hartsfield, 2pm), Matabeleland Warrriors v Old Miltonians (4pm), Gweru Sports Club v Old Georgians (Gweru Sports Club), Old Hararians v Zvishavane Bulls (Old Hararians Sports Club)
Log
P W D L F A B P T
Old Hararians 12 11 0 1 715 164 10 44 54
Old Georgians 10 9 0 1 359 142 9 36 45
Harare Sports Club 10 6 0 4 538 156 8 24 32
Old Miltonians 11 4 2 5 198 345 4 20 24
Mat Warriors 10 3 1 6 240 244 5 14 19
***Western Panthers 11 4 1 6 188 413 2 11 13
***Gweru Sports 10 3 0 7 162 393 5 3 8
Zvishavane Bulls 12 1 0 11 129 633 3 4 7
***Points deducted for use of an unregistered player.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo