Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE curtain is coming down on the round-robin stage of the 2025 Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Archer Clothing Rugby League today. With everything on the line, a highly anticipated derby between bitter rivals Old Miltonians (OMs) and Matabeleland Warriors is set to take centre stage at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
The two giants of local rugby are vying for the top spot, separated by just two points. Defending champions OMs sit at the top of the log with 39 points from eight matches, while former title holders, Warriors, are hot on their heels with 37.
Both sides are coming into this crucial encounter on the back of big victories last week. However, OMs possess more confidence, as they are the only side yet to taste defeat this season, having also won the first instalment of the derby 39-35 in July.
OMs’ head coach, Paradzai Matsika, said they have had a good week of preparation with a full squad in place, barring the injured players. Matsika said the players are in high spirits and raring to go, and is hopeful that they will be able to continue with their impressive run.
“It has been a good week building up to the game on Saturday. We have had a full squad at training, the quality has been good, and we are looking forward to a good game of rugby. The boys are ready for it, it’s guns blazing.
“We can’t consider ourselves as the favourites. If you look at the previous two games, the matches have been close, but I think we have a good chance of winning. We hope that we continue with our run and have a good game on Saturday,” said Matsika.
Warriors head coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba said their preparations have gone well. The former Cheetahs gaffer said they put in a good shift in practice throughout the week and all that is left is for players to execute the plans on the field.
“We have done the most that we can in terms of our preparation for Saturday. We had a good preparation and it’s now up to the players. As I previously said, we are still a work in progress, we continue taking each game as it comes and this is a league race; it won’t end this weekend, and there are more games to come. But, fans can expect a good game,” said Nyamutsamba.
A win for OMs will see them complete the round-robin stage as the only unbeaten side, solidifying their top spot, while a victory for Warriors will see them jump to the top of the standings.
The derby is not the only potentially explosive game lined up for today. With OMs, Warriors, and Western Suburbs Panthers already guaranteed a semi-final berth, the last spot is up for grabs between Highlanders and Mahogany Bulls.
The two sides, separated by three points, are scheduled to face off in the first game of the day. The Gweru-based Bulls side sit in fourth place with 16 points, three ahead of Highlanders in fifth, who have managed to amass 13 points. It will be a winner-takes-all encounter between the two ambitious teams.
In the other men’s match, Western Suburbs Panthers are set to face the bottom-placed Bulldogs.
There will also be a top-of-the-table clash in the women’s championship where table toppers Warriors will be up against Highlanders. Third-placed Panthers faced the Bulldogs.
The top four teams in both the men’s and women’s championships will proceed to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for September 6. After today’s decisive matches, action will take a one-week break to allow teams to recuperate ahead of the knockouts.
BMRFB Archer Clothing Rugby League Fixtures:
Men:
Mahogany Bulls vs Highlanders (1PM), Bulldogs vs Panthers (2.30PM), Warriors vs OMs (4PM)
Women:
Highlanders vs Warriors (12PM), Panthers vs Bulldogs (12.30PM) – @brandon_malvin
