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Brandon Moyo
FOLLOWING the completion of the first stage of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Archer Clothing Rugby League, teams have been given a one-week break to recuperate as they prepare for the knockout stages.
Only four teams are remaining following the completion of the round-robin stage of the league and when action resumes next Saturday, there will be two enthralling play-off matches lined up.
The four teams that stood tall from the round-robin stage are Old Miltonians who finished as log leaders, defending champions Matabeleland Warriors who were runners up, third-placed Panthers and Highlanders, who finished in fourth place. Bottom-placed Bulldogs were eliminated.
League co-ordinator George Hlatshwayo confirmed that the four sides were given a breather to recuperate before they return to action in what promises to be an exhilarating play-off stage. The winners of the two play-off matches will proceed to the grand finale.
“We are done with the first stage of our league which was the round-robin format and now action moves to the elimination stage, the play-offs. There will be all to play for with the four qualified teams looking to book their spots in the final and hopefully win the title. However, after gruelling action, the league takes a one-week break to allow the qualified teams to recuperate. It’s good for them to get some rest as they prepare for the playoffs. When action resumes the following week, we have interesting games lined up and we call on all rugby enthusiasts to come in their numbers and support the game,” said Hlatshwayo.
In the play-offs, OMs will be up against fourth-placed Highlanders while Warriors will be up against third-placed Panthers. The winners of the two matches will then proceed to the final where the winner takes all.
Only one point separated OMs and Warriors at the top of the standings with the former finishing on 35 points while the latter had 34 points. Both OMs and Warriors won seven games apiece while losing just once in the eight matches they played. OMs, however, managed to accumulate seven bonus points while their nemesis, Warriors got six.
OMs’ only defeat came in their final round-robin encounter and it was the Warriors who got one over them. Warriors won the match 22-15. Warriors’ solitary loss also came against OMs, losing the first match they played against each other 16-12.
Panthers go into the break and effectively the play-offs high in confidence having beat Highlanders 47-12 in their last game. Panthers, therefore, finished on 16 points, eight ahead of Highlanders who had eight points to their names.
From Panthers’ 16 points, four were bonus points while Highlanders got none. Panthers had three wins and five defeats while Highlanders managed to win on a couple of occasions while losing six times. Anchoring the league table is Bulldogs who finished on six points with one win (plus two bonus points) and seven defeats.
Online Reporter