Prince Edward tops at rugby festival

Prince Edward……………………… (14) 21
Peterhouse……………………………….. (3) 6
PRINCE Edward overpowered the 2013 Zimbabwe schools rugby champions Peterhouse College in an exciting final match of the annual Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival played at a packed Jubilee Field at PE in Harare yesterday.

The battle between the two giants of Zimbabwean schools rugby proved to be a tight contest in the first half as the two teams could not be separated with 20 minutes played. Peterhouse recorded the first points of the match when flyhalf Tapiwanashe Nyangoni booted in a penalty goal in the 20th minute.

PE hit back with a pushover try three minutes later through flank Nigel Mpofu who went over the line from a five-metre penalty awarded to the Tigers and flyhalf Munashe Furamera kicked in the conversion.

The second try for PE was provided by first centre Francois Chikukwa who sprinted through to score and again the conversion kick by Furamera was successful with PE leading 14-3 going into the break.

Nyangoni kicked in the second penalty goal for Peterhouse six minutes after the break from just outside the PE 22 metre line. PE did not take time to increase their lead, a try coming from winger Beardsley Mabhenge and Furamera weighed in with the two extra points with good conversion kick to put PE 21-6 ahead.

The biggest upset of the last day was delivered by Eaglesvale, coached by Zimbabwe Sables assistant coach and Old Hararians coach Cyprian Mandenge who conquered Saint Johns College 21-14 to add to their brilliant show they put up on Thursday, when they overcame Churchill 17-10.

Meanwhile, the sponsors of the schools rugby feast which saw more than 200 matches played over six days at PE and neighbouring school Allan Wilson expressed satisfaction at how the tournament was run.

Sandra Dodo, Dairibord Zimbabwe Private Limited brand manager beverages and liquids said as the sponsors they were really pleased with how the festival has unfolded which proved to be way beyond their expectations.

Dodo said even International Rugby Board vice-president, South African Oregan Hoskins who was in the country on a fact finding mission was impressed with the high level of organisation at the schools rugby fiesta.

“As Dairibord Zimbabwe Private we are thoroughly impressed with how this rugby festival has unfolded and delivered beyond our expectations. Even the IRB vice-president endorsed the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival and was highly amused with the high level of organisation. This year we were hyping sustenance of good health through advocating for the consumption of healthy dairy beverages,’’ said Dodo.

Going forward, Dodo said they want to raise the bar even higher and bring on board an increased number of schools from outside the country to add more international flavour to the event. The foreign schools that made it to this year’s festival were Botswana Under-19, Livingstone Kolobeng College also from Botswana and Windhoek Technical High School of Namibia.

Present from Dairibord on the closing day of the festival was Dairibord Holdings group chief executive officer Anthony Mandiwanza, DZPL managing director Thompson Mabika and Dairibord Holdings finance director Mercy Ndoro and group marketing manager Lawrence Chikwehwah.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union president John Falkenberg, present from start to finish of the schools rugby carnival at his former school praised DZPL for their sponsorship and expressed hope that they are here to stay. Also present throughout the festival from ZRU were vice-presidents Nyararai Sibanda and Coleen De Jonge.

Former Springboks coach, Zimbabwe born Ian McIntosh also graced the festival from its start to the end.
DZPL took over sponsorship of the schools rugby fiesta from the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe who had bankrolled it for years. The deal between DZPL and the Sebastian Garikai led organising committee is for three years.

Full results:
Hellenic 28 Heritage 10, Kyle College 38 Plumtree 3, Botswana national Under-19 11 Watershed 26, Windhoek Technical School 21 Hillcrest 8, Falcon 64 Lomagundi 0, Saint Johns College 14 Eaglesvale 21, Churchill 15 Saint Georges 14, Prince Edward 21 Peterhouse 6