Young Sables end tournament winless

THE Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby side finished eighth after losing 29-30 to the United States in a closely fought battle here at Shevardeni Stadium yesterday afternoon in the seventh place play-off.
If there was a match the Young Sables were to win, the it was this one. But the luckless Young Sables went on to suffer their fourth straight defeat at the annual tournament effectively ending as the lowest placed side in the competition.
Zimbabwe got their points through four tries by flyhalf Sean Linfield, flanker Tatenda Chikaka, winger Justin Coles and eighth man Takudzwa Mandiwanza while Linfield also added two conversions and scrummy Charles Jiji weighing in with a penalty and a conversion. Four tries from Dan Metcalf, Bubba Jones, Apelu So’olao and Paul Mullen while place kicks came from Joe Cowley with two conversions and a penalty. The result means that the Young Sables are now ranked as the 20th best side in the world of junior rugby, falling by one place from last year’s 19th as they had finished seventh in Russia. But in a game that was characterised by injuries, mistakes, missed kicks and wrong decisions on the pitch, Zimbabwe failed to maintain the lead when they got it.
The Americans took an early penalty to lead 3-0.
A Sean Linfield converted try in the ninth minute saw Zimbabwe claiming the lead which they held on for 20 minutes but the Young Sables were not able to add more points during the time they were holding the Americans.
They were duly punished when Dan Metcalf placed in the Zimbabwe in-goal, following a push over, but the conversion by fullback Joe Cowley failed to sail through.
The try came just a minute after captain Marco Mama was substituted following a rib injury and Bubba Jones added another unconverted try for the Americans to extend their lead to 15-7.
But the evasive Chikaka did not take time to settle as he responded with a 36th minute try that saw Linfield making good use of the bonus points as they tried to get the better of the United States in a battle for pride.
Coach Brighton Chivandire was forced to make substitutions after losing Mama, with just 28 minutes on the clock, and Hilton Mudariki was replaced by Jiji in the 35th minute and Chikaka – who had come in for Mama had to be stretchered off the pitch and sent to hospital with an ankle injury. Zimbabwe would score brilliant tries, pile on the pressure but could not hold on for long and this saw them trailing 15-14.
Teams
Zimbabwe
Zeru Makomva, Tatenda Karuru (Murray Bryce-Rodgers), Dalroy Sibanda, Taku Jaravaza, Regis Mutangadura, Simba Gonese, Marco Mama (captain) (Tatenda Chikaka 28th minute – Shane Joubert 37th minute), Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Hilton Mudariki (Charles Jiji 35th minute), Sean Linfield, Justin Coles, Dylan Coetzee, Takura Tela, Victor Mushoriwa, Marcus Nel (Kuda Chiwanza 48th minute).
USA
OJ Auimatagi, Patrick Latu, Paul Mullen, Pat Coleman, Dan Metcalf(Sean Carley 77th minute),Chuck Koehler (Tyler Black 66th minute), Vake Sanft (Mike Juszczak 40th minute), Tim O’Hara, Mike Durant, Will Magie (captain), Madison Hughes, Bubba Jones, Will Farrell (Conor Mills 62nd minute), Apelu So’oalo, Joe Cowley.