adminPanthers caused the biggest upset of the opening round to come out with a hard-fought one point win at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
Newcomers Zvishavane Bulls got a baptism of fire with a 0-50 hiding at the hands of former champions Old Georgians.
Despite being at home, the Bulls found it very difficult to break the Old Georgians’ defence and failed to score against Grant Mitchell’s side at the McAdam Rugby Grounds in the mining town of Zvishavane.
This meant that Reuben Kumpasa’s Mat’land Warriors were the only giant that fell at the weekend as defending champions Harare Sports Club got their campaign off on the right footing with a 56-12 win over Gweru Sports Club while a rejuvenated Old Hararians thumped Old Miltonians 82-3.
The Old Boys are smiling on top of the league standings following the biggest win of the week.
It seemed the match between Gweru and Harare Sports Club was going to be a tough contest but the Harare giants dominated after having gone into the break with a 27-12 lead.
Sports Club could have had won by a bigger margin but woeful kicking from starting flyhalf Rangarirai Zimbowa, who is yet to pick form, saw them put to waste 12 points from the boot.
It was the heroics of Sables and former Zimbabwe Under-20 flanker Tonderai Chigumbura that opened the scoring spree for Sports Club with an early converted try before centre and captain Daniel Hondo, lock Tafadzwa Bepura and Tafadzwa Mhende gave the hosts a comfortable lead.
However, Sportivo planted a total of nine tries in the Gweru in-goal with the duo of Tolerance Zishe and winger Stephan Hunduza each scoring a brace of tries for Sportivo.
Gweru’s points came from Terence Mwemba off an interception while Cheetahs gasman, Kilvan Magunje, weighed in with seven points off his converted try.
Under the guidance of new coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, Old Hararians were too powerful for Old Miltonians.
In the Metro League, Harare Sports Club second string side, the Red Lions, got the better of Mabvuku Sports Club with a ruthless 65-5 thrashing of their opponents.
The Old Boys second string side also registered a win courtesy of a 27-6 win over Police Defenders at the same venue.
Online Reporter