The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in STELLENBOSCH, South Africa
Zimbabwe.........................(7) 7
Namibia ...........................(7) 29
FOR the second year in a row, the Junior Sables return home from the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week winless.
The team yesterday went down 7-29 to Namibia in their final match of the annual schools rugby tournament at Paul Roos Gymnasium.
Zimbabwe were on par with Namibia going into the break, but went on to concede 22 points in the second half.
Zimbabwe only managed one converted try the whole match, while Namibia scored four tries, three conversions and one penalty.
The team’s only try came three minutes before the end of the first half after skipper Brian Muntanga powered his way over the line and the conversion kick by flyhalf Benjamin Meredith made it 7-7.
However, Junior Sables coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa, who felt this was one of the weakest Namibian teams he has ever faced, disclosed at the end of the match that he had to change his starting line-up when some of the players fell sick on the morning of the match.
Some of those who got unwell are Levi Fargnoli, flank Stuart Dodington and centre Jordan Zietsman. Fargnoli started the match, while Dodington was introduced later on in the second half and Zietsman never took to the field.
Added to that, wing Russell Dinha could not be considered for the match as he suffered a suspected concussion on Thursday. Prop Liam Kenny and lock Kevin Chisango had already been ruled out by injury.
