Zimpapers Logo

Harare Bureau
IT was a day filled with heartbreak yesterday for the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby side after they suffered an agonising 19-22 defeat having surrendered a last minute lead to Russia in the final of the World Series core membership qualifier in Hong Kong.Leading 19-17 in the final minute of the game, Russia came back just as the final hooter went with Vladimir Ostroushko — who had gifted Zimbabwe with a try a few moments earlier — scoring the decisive try with a run from his own half.

This means Daniel Hondo’s Cheetahs will have to fight another day for them to make it as a core member — an opportunity that comes once in a year — as they failed to realise their dream.

Ostroushko thought he had thrown away Russia’s Sevens World Series hopes when he dropped the ball in front of his own posts and gave Cheetahs winger Kudakwashe Chiwanza a try that saw Zimbabwe take a 19-17 lead seconds before the final hooter.

But Ostroushko quickly made amends with a stunning run from well inside his own half in his team’s last possession to give Russia a 22-19 victory in the qualifier final and a place in next season’s elite 15-team global circuit.

It seemed Zimbabwe were already celebrating when they kicked off after the final hooter but Russia, needing to score from one play, broke African hearts.

Russian coach Andrey Sorokin told the media that he had no hope his charges were going to pull a sucker-punch as his players had shown signs of giving up before they pulled themselves together.

Russia had taken an early lead and with a little over a minute into the game they were 5-0 up through Dmitriy Perov but Zimbabwe replied with a quick converted Tafadzwa Chitokwindo touchdown that saw Zimbabwe lead 7-5.

Russia sped ahead with two tries, one converted, via Yury Gostyuzhev and Eduard Filatov before Chitokwindo narrowed the gap with a converted effort to make it 17-14 to the Russians at half-time.

The second half featured tough tackling from both sides and, with seconds left, Russia looked to run the ball out of defence, which was the chance for Ostroushko to make his mark.

On their way to the final, Zimbabwe got the better of Spain – a side that had handed them their only defeat in group stages and prior to the loss to Russia in the decider –  24-14 in the semi-final.

Zimbabwe came back from 7-0 down with three unanswered tries to Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza and Boyd Rouse for a 19-7 lead at half-time.

Ignacioa Martin gave the Spaniards a glimmer of hope with a try to reduce the margin.