adminBulawayo clubs affiliated with the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board used the weekend matches to prepare for the conventional league at Hartsfield Stadium.
Matabeleland Warriors narrowly beat rivals Old Miltonians 14-12 in a tightly contested game, while Western Panthers clobbered new boys Old Falcon Boys 58-7.
Warriors, Panthers and Old Miltonians are in the top-flight league, while Old Falcon Boys, Christian Brothers College and Bulldogs are competing in the lower league.
Warriors went for the weekend match without Jafet Ndebele and Lloyd Machanjaira who were in Harare on national duty with the Cheetahs and Goshawks.
Former Sables star Reuben Kumpasa and Terrence Kuvarega pulled strings together for the Warriors.
An elated Western Panthers coach George “Coach Rollo” Mukorera said the pre-season competition was an eye opener for most clubs and he was hopeful that teams would pick up before the start of the season.
“Teams have been playing Sevens and the transition to the conventional game might take other clubs long to gel. I am happy with the performance of my boys but I must say we have to work hard to maintain the momentum. This is just the beginning and teams will be going back to work on their weaknesses and I am sure we are going to have some interesting rugby this season,” Mukorera said.
Ex-Cheetahs star Silethokuhle “Slatter” Ndlovu and Masimba Siyampinda led a youthful Panthers outfit that had up-and-coming star Irvine “Bhuda” Nduwa, Knowledge Moyo, Marlvin Gomo and Tichaona Mupamadzi to beat a hapless Old Falcon Boys.
In the last game of the weekend Bulldogs were made to bite the dust by CBC Hornets who beat them 42-5.
The women’s match between Panthers and Botswana University did not take place as the latter travelled home on Friday evening.
Results
Saturday: CBC Hornets 42, Bulldogs 5; Old Miltonians 12, Matabeleland Warriors 14; Western Panthers 58, Old Falcon Boys 7.
Online Reporter