The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in Durban, South Africa
Zimbabwe Under-18. . . . . . . . .(0) 3
Namibia Under-18. . . . . . . . . . (5) 34
THE Junior Sables ended their Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week on a disappointing note with a loss to Namibia at Kearsney College yesterday.
A superb first half defensive show saw Zimbabwe trail by just five points going into the break but it all fell apart in the second period.
In the end, Namibia managed six tries and two conversions while Zimbabwe got their only points of the match from a second half penalty goal.
Their second half show was not helped by the loss of hooker Tinashe Chaza who suffered an ankle injury.
Further injuries to wings Peter Davis and Tapiwa Marimira worsened matters.
Namibia got their first try from right wing Rudi Pretorius in the fourth minute with the conversion kick missed by flyhalf Gerswin Mouton.
Mouton wasted another opportunity to stretch Namibia’s lead five minutes before the break when his penalty fell short.
Namibia came out stronger after the break.
Left wing Elmarco Beukes went over for the second try from a won scrum three minutes into the second half but Chad Plato missed the conversion.
Second centre Matthew McNab booted in a long range penalty goal 10 minutes into the second half to reduce the deficit for Zimbabwe.
Man-of-the-match Mouton then planted the third try for Namibia 17 minutes into the second stanza from a won scrum but Pretorius missed the conversion.
Five minutes later, Mouton picked up his second try, the fourth for Namibia, after sustained pressure but the conversion from Denzo Bruwer was not successful.
Namibia had their fifth try of the match 11 minutes before the end with scrumhalf Handre Klazinga benefitting from a huge overlap on the right side.
Mouton booted in the conversion.
