adminPlate after edging Kenya 7-0 but Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba said they achieved most of their objectives despite not making it to the final.
“We went into the tournament with three objectives which were giving play time to the side, winning the tournament and trying our combinations and new players but it was unfortunate that we did not make it to the final.
“I was happy with the way the boys played against South Africa in the semi-final and I like the fact that the young boys, who include Steven Hunduza, realised the demands of the game at such levels.
“The tournament also gave me a brief insight into the players that we have and going into Hong Kong, we still have two weeks to work on the teams and remember we have the likes of Wes Mbanje who we had rested,” said Nyamutsamba. It was an all South African final as the SA Academy side took on the Leopards — who had earlier beaten Kenya 7-10 in the other Cup semi-final — and the win by the SA Academy left Blitzbokke coach Paul Treu a happy man.
“The main reason we were here is that we had to give our boys exposure and as we said before winning the tournament was a bonus to us and it is good that we managed to get some game time against the likes of Kenya, Hong Kong and Georgia who will all be at Hong Kong.
“Zimbabwe played well, they attacked better than us but because several times we stopped them at the goal line and they were unfortunate not to get a win because we defended better than them and for us it paid.
“Us beating them in the semi-final, I am sure, was a wake up call for the (Cheetahs) and gives them a motivational loss going into Hong Kong but what I loved the most about this tournament is that it is well-timed and gives us something between Las Vegas and Hong Kong,” said Treu.
Going into the tournament, Zimbabwe were the defending champions but they failed to live up to expectations after a wonderful opening day where they won all their pool games but failed to match their performance where it mattered the most.
Zimbabwe started the day with a 35-7 win over Asians Hong Kong in the Cup quarter-final but it was in their second game of Day Two that they fell to a determined South Africa developmental side coached by Blitzbokke mentor Treu.
This meant that the Cheetahs were relegated to the Plate final where they emerged 7-0 winners against Kenya Shujaa. In the Plate final, Zimbabwe took the lead five minutes into the game and it was Tangai Nemadire who converted his own try as the Cheetahs won a turnover ball from a Kenya scrum near the five-metre line.
This was all the Cheetahs could manage in the first half as they went to the break leading 7-0
With a few minutes before the end of the second half, the Cheetahs were awarded a penalty on the 22-metre line and opted to go for posts but Nemadire was not able to take it despite being in front of the posts.
Day 1 Results
Pool A: Cheetahs 40, Zambia 0; Georgia 14, Zambia 7; Cheetahs 27, Georgia 7.
Pool B: Kenya 14, Hong Kong 12; Kenya 26, Zambezi Warriors 7; Hong Kong 26 Zambezi Warriors 14,
Pool C: SA Development 45, Blue Bulls Academy 0; SA Development 26, Leopards 21; Leopards 27, Blue Bulls Academy 0.
Pool D: Goshawks 21, SA Buffaloes 17; SA Buffaloes 19, Pumas 12; Pumas 17, Goshawks 14.
Day 2 Results
Quarter finals: Cheetahs 35, Hong Kong Kong 7; SA Development 33, Goshawks 7; Shujaah 31, Georgia 5; Leopards 3, Buffaloes 0.
Cup semis: Cheetahs 5, SA Development 12; Kenya 7, Leopards 10
Bowl final: Goshawks 19, Buffaloes 12
Shield final: Hong Kong 21, Georgia 19
Plate final: Cheetahs 7, Kenya 0
Cup final: SA Development 42 , Leopards 0.
Online Reporter