Mixed fortunes for Cheetahs

30 Nov, 2014 - 00:11 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

THE Cheetahs met mixed fortunes on the opening day of the Confederation of African Rugby Sevens tournament at Prince Edward yesterday.

The hosts beat Nigeria, narrowly lost to Kenya before getting it right against Uganda and Ivory Coast.

On a day some world class rugby was on show, Zimbabwe beat Nigeria 26-19, fell 17-19 to Kenya but dusted themselves up and dismissed Uganda 19-12 and thumping Ivory Coast 55-0.

The Cheetahs looked complacent in their first two matches with their ball handling skills a worry.

In their opening match against Nigeria, the hosts allowed their opponents to cut through their sluggish defence three times before snatching the game away at the death through the individual brilliance of veteran Fortunate Chipendu.

The clash with Kenya showed that the Cheetahs can raise their game when cornered as they rallied from 19-5 down early in the second half.

However, their efforts were not enough.

After the disappointing start captain Jacques Leitao and his men regrouped and got the better of Uganda before having a ball against the Ivory Coast.

Kilvan Magunje, Shayne Makombe and the speedy Tafadzwa Chitokwindo led the attack with aplomb while the trio of Stephen Hunduza, Fortune Chipendu and newboy Rian O Neil planted a try apiece as the Cheetahs mauled the Ivoirians.

The Cheetahs need to win the tournament if they are to qualify for the core-team qualifier at the Hong Kong World Sevens in March next year.

However, they can still qualify if they finish as the highest ranked non-core team at this tournament.

South Africa and Kenya enjoy core status.

In other matches South Africa walloped Madagascar 49-0, Senegal 38-0 before dismissing both Zambia and Tunisia by similar 28-0 margins.

Despite losing 11-7 to Kenya, Namibia gained momentum winning 24-19 against Uganda before thrashing Ivory Coast 40-0.

They also went on to beat Nigeria 49-0.

The tourney continues today.

 

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