Rugby league gets underway

hosting Harare Sports Club — the team they beat in the league final at the end of last season following an extra-time try.
This was not the first time the two sides are meeting in the championship decider as Sports Club had also lost to the Dragons at the end of the 2010 season — also in extra-time in front of their home crowd at the Lions Den.
Prior to the two giants’ clash, Airforce have a date against Matland Warriors — formerly Busters — who will be under the guidance of Sables’ coach Brandon Dawson.
Former champions Old Hararians, who have been a pale shadow of themselves, will be on the road on Saturday as they travel to Bulawayo’s Hartsfield Rugby Grounds where they take on Old Miltonians.
In Bulawayo, the Old Boys will exhibit some of their new signings who crossed the floor from rivals Old Georgains and these include Sables fullback Daniel Robertson and Luke Rutter.
There were also some additions to the Old Hararians bench where Max Madziva retained his job as head coach while Tendai Chanakira comes in as one of the assistant coaches together with Vakai Hove.
Hove is in charge of the forwards pack while Doug Trivella — who also moved form Old Georgians — will be in charge of the backline as the Old Boys seek to regain lost pride.
Gweru Sports Club — who bounced back after almost a decade out of the picture — host Panthers on the same day at Gweru Sports Club.
After a wonderful season in the Southern Region B League, the Gweru side went into a play-off against Old Hararians II who had also finished tops in the Northern Region B League (now re-branded the Metro League).
Gweru won both legs of the play-offs, first winning in the Midlands Province before finishing off the Old Boys in front of their home crowd.
There, however, will be a difference to the way the games between the NRL and the Metro League will be fixtured this season as the Metro League are planning on going solo and will not be sharing most of the venues with the NRL.
In the past, the Metro League teams would play at the same venue as the NRL teams mostly coming in as “dew wipers” before the NRL games took over the slow in the afternoon.
Week 1 Fixtures
NRL: Airforce v Matland Warriors (Old Georgians 2pm), Gweru v Panthers (Gweru 3pm), Old Miltonians v Old Hararians (Hartsfield 4pm), Old Georgians v Harare Sports Club (Old Georgians 4pm),
Metro League: Mufakose v Southern City 10am, Mutare v Mbare Bulldogs 11.30am, Police v Mabvuku 1pm, Edwardians v Red Lions 2.30pm (All games at Old Georgians B Field)
Women: Heels v Airforce (Old Georgians 3.30pm) Panthers v Old Hararians (Hartsfield 3.40pm), Harare PSorts Club v Police (Old Georgians 3.45pm).