Rugby league preview

Rugby League this afternoon when they host bitter rivals Harare Sports Club.
The match – pregnant with a lot of subplots and intense rivalry between the two sides – will be the main game of the day at Old Hararians Sports Club where six games are set to take place.
The first game of the day will see B- League side Police Defenders take on Mufakose Swallows before Old Hararians’ second string side date an equally strong Sports Club II.
OH women will also host Sports Club women before the big one between the sides’ first teams game that is expected to kick off at 4pm.
In the pre-season alone the two sides met twice – first in the Old Hararians rugby day tournament where the Old Boys walked out winners.
Two weeks later Sports Club turned the tables with a Charity Cup win.
The Old Boys were the first side to beat Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge’s side last season and brought Sports Club’s unbeaten run to an end with a close 7-0 win.
But this season Sports Club have already suffered one defeat, a 15-23 loss at the hands of rivals and defending champions Old Georgians in their season opener at the Lions Den.
This was a huge defeat for Sports Club who felt the game had a significant bearing on the championship race, and in just three weeks, they find themselves facing another giant.
But last week the Red Lions were able to get past a hapless Airforce when they won with the biggest margin registered so far – handing the Manyame based side a 98-0 thrashing.
However, the Old Boys first registered a 42-23 win over Bulawayo side Old Miltonians at Sports Club before a 63-7 drubbing of Mutare Sports Club last week.
And today a completely different task awaits the two former champions at Old Hararians where all their three sides, including the women and the second string sides, will square off.
Airforce will be on the road again this week when they travel to Bulawayo where they have a date against Busters at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
The Manyame side has been struggling in the league as highlighted by their huge loss to Sports Club last week and their opening 48-17 loss to Busters last week.
Club official Phillip Moses believes his side has to work hard if they are to stay in the national rugby league as they have been the whipping boys since last season.
Last season the side finished as one of the relegation teams but survived as there was no demotion and promotion in the league.
And Moses feels they have to play better this year.
“We are playing the A league and most of the team are well established as they take part in international matches.
“For us to fit in the A league we need to be serious.
“Last year we lost some of our big players to big clubs which in the end made our team weak since we had fused in new players,” said Moses.
Airforce is expected to play Panthers and they are banking on the form of prop Tamuka Marimo, flanker Bheki Bhebhe, centre Desmond Mukwasi, fullback Sandile Mabhena and Jonathan Mangwende who has just recovered from an injury.
“We are now two weeks into the season and I am hopeful will get there as the season progresses since we have the support from the management.
“We provide food, transport and training kit for the players and a very good gymnasium which is well equipped.
“We do not necessarily look at number on the scoreboard but we look a how the game was played,” said Moses.
League Fixtures
A-League: Panthers v Airforce (Hartsfield 4pm),
Mutare v Busters (Mutare 3pm),
Old Georgians v Old Miltonians (Old Hararians (2.00pm),
Old Hararians v Harare Sports Club (4.10pm).
B-League: Southern City v Mbare (Old Hararians 11am),
Old Hararians II v Sports Club II (Old Hararians 12.30am),
Police v Swallows (Old Hararians 9.30am),
Old Miltonians v Thornhill (Hartsfield 1pm),
Panthers v Busters (Hartsfield 2pm),
Gweru v Bulldogs (Gweru 3.30pm).
Women: Heels v Police (Hartsfield 3.20pm),
Old Hararians v Harare Sports Club (Old Hararians 3.50pm),
Busters v Airforce (Hartsfield 3.40pm).