adminFrom Paul Munyuki In JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
ZIMBABWE finished third and avoided relegation from the Junior Africa Cup Group 1A after they got the better of Madagascar with a 21-3 win at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday. Having lost to Kenya in the opening game, effectively losing out on a chance of playing in the Cup final, Zimbabwe had to face Madagascar — who had lost to eventual winners Kenya — in the third place play-off.
The third place play-off was also used as a relegation game that saw Madagascar going back to Group 1B where they were last year, as they failed to match the competition in the top tier.
The Junior Africa Cup tournament is also used as a Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament and was again won by Namibia, who defended their title and will make a record fifth appearance at the world showcase in Hong Kong next year.
However, Zimbabwe this year, put up their worst performance in the tournament in seven years as they failed to reach the final, settling for a third place and this was all due to the poor work they exhibited in the opening game last Tuesday, at the same venue.
Had they lost against Madagascar, Zimbabwe would have been relegated to the less prestigious Group 1B.
It, however, took some courage for the Young Sables to bounce back from their 20-29 loss to Kenya as they powered to a much needed win over Madagascar, that kept them in the top class of junior African rugby.
On Saturday, winger Takudzwa Kumadiro was the first to dot down and put Zimbabwe 5-0 up with just five minutes into the game but flyhalf Nyasha Chimdeza missed the conversion. Nine minutes on Zimbabwe were penalised for falling over and Madagascar, who were struggling to break the Zimbabwe defence opted to go for posts but flyhalf Jose Ranaivoson missed the target.
Zimbabwe were a different side to what they had shown against Kenya as they were more clinical, had good defence and were cleaner at the point of contact were they rarely lost the ball to the opposition.
Even the kicking was good and this was the kind of play they were supposed to have exhibited in the opening game, but lack of game time in their preparation exposed the players who were clearly out of sorts in the opener.
It was in the 32nd minute that Zimbabwe extended their lead through captain and loose forward Alva Senderayi, who broke loose in a well calculated move that came after a long stand in the Madagascar camp.
From this try came Zimbabwe’s first points from the sticks as Chimedza managed to add the two bonus points from the spot kick, extending the Young Sables’ lead to 12-0 going into the break.
Although Zimbabwe did not score a lot of points in the second half as they went for posts and got all the three kicks to add nine more points through Chimedza’s boot, they had done much of the damage in the first half.
Madagascar only managed a three pointer in the 53rd minute through Heritiana Rananjason and that was the last time either of the sides made a change to the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Namibia won the tournament with a 51-3 thrashing of Kenya.
Online Reporter