The Sunday Mail
Jimmy Chikange
Old Geogians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(47) 86
Mutare Sports Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 3
Merciless Old Georgians were in an uncompromising mood when they ran riot by dotting down 14 tries and eight conversions en route to thrashing debutants Mutare Spots Club in the National Rugby League season opener at Harare Sports Club yesterday. Leading from the front for the OGs onslaught was captain and flank Jacques Laitao who touched down four times. Explosive inside centre Sebastian Roche weighed in with a treble while right wing Brandon Boshi and scrumhalf Jan Surtees touched down twice apiece.
Outside centre Craig Elcombe and replacement Kyle De Beer, who came in for Stuart Irvine in the last half, scored a try each.
Elcombe could only manage seven conversions while flyhalf Ryan Sprake booted over the other.
Newcomers Mutare flyhalf Gigeon Muyambo booted over a solitary penalty to gain their paltry three points deep in the second period after OGs forwards were punished by referee Julian Mundawarara for failing to release possession from a tackle situation just outside their 22-metre line.
In a weekend where defending champions Old Hararians were still basking in the glory by enjoying a bye, OGs coach Grant Mitchell attributed the victory to his well-co-ordinated charges who, however, struggled with fatigue.
Old Georgians, who recruited a youthful outfit blended in with experience, proved to be lethal on the day in open play with better handling skills thus exerting pressure on the back – pedalling opposition.
“Yes, the boys played well today. We brought into the fold Boshi, Roche and Ian Bawden from the National U19s that played in the Craven Week last year. Also beefing up the squad Hillary Sumaira and Vellem Musarara from Mbare Academy,” said Mitchell.
However, mesmerising the respectable crowd witnessing this occasion was the generally the ball exchanges between full three quarter-line, particularly scrumhalf Ian Surtees and flyhalf Sprake who sent the ball to the right wing and setting up the hard running Boshi for a touchdown when it mattered most.
In another encounter at the same venue, Harare Sports Club made their intentions clear when they humiliated Zvishavane Bulls 86 – 0. In Bulawayo, Busters beat Gweru 32 – 3 at Hartfield Stadium in while Western Panthers overcame Old Miltonians21 – 15 in a tightly-contested Bulawayo derby.
“It was a slow start to the season. Teams are very rusty. But on the same token,from what I saw, I think we are going to have a very exciting season,” said Noddy Kanyangarara, the NRL chairman.
