Zim feel hard done

Zimbabwe had a brilliant start to the game with two converted tries from captain Sean Linfield and winger Justin Coles but the Japanese managed to pick themselves up and scored four un-replied tries late in the second half.
The Southern Africans appeared to have done well to crawl back into the game with 22 un-replied points including a penalty by Linfield that saw them regain the lead but a last minute try by second half fullback substitute Yutaro Murai broke the Zimbabwean hearts.
“We all know that the referee is the sole judge of time during a game and he went on to add another four minutes that we did not understand where they came from and it was within his last minute of play that Japan scored a try and won the game.
“Tough as it might be, we have to pick ourselves up and we are right now in the process of preparing for our next game against Georgia on Friday but that was a devastating event,” said Kershaw.
But he feels that Zimbabwe sent a right message with the way the boys played and most of the coaches and players who saw how Brighton Chivandire’s boys fared last year in Georgia noticed the difference and the improvement on the part of Africa’s representatives.
“We basically started well as we were straight in the faces of the Japanese with early tries that gave our boys confidence and belief that they could win the game.
“But I believe that the critical time was the last 10 minutes of the first half where we conceded three tries without reply and again conceded another early in the second half as they went on  a rally of scoring and put a dent on the boys.
“Our defence was caught wanting at that time and we had to play catch up from 34-14 to take a lead in what we thought was the last minute of the game when captain Sean Linfield scored a penalty and we went ahead by two points,” said Kershaw.
Yesterday morning coach Chivandire took his charges through their paces at Sandy Grounds where Japan team manager Yasuhiro Lijima who saluted the Young Sables for their brave show.