Zimpapers Logo

Paul Munyuki Harare Bureau
THE past weekend was a perfect one for a host of Zimbabweans plying their rugby in South Africa with Cheetahs flanker Tapiwa “Homely” Tsomondo hogging the limelight. The last time Tsomondo was in the headlines was when he turned down a Sables call-up by coach Brandon Dawson for the failed World Cup campaign. Tsomondo was in top form for the Western Province Under-21 where he scored three tries in his side’s 91-7 thrashing of Border Under-21 in Cape Town on Saturday.
Former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain, Alva Senderayi, making his debut for WP Under-21, scored a brace of tries coming off the bench.

Replacement back WJ Strydom kicked seven conversions, after coming on as a replacement early on for fly-half Chris Smith, who left the field on a stretcher.
Western Province took advantage of the Lions’ loss to the Sharks on Friday night to move back to the top of the log with a two-point advantage and a game in hand.

Tsomondo touched down once in the first half and twice in the second period while second half substitute Senderai got his five pointers in the 45th and 63rd minute to cap a memorable debut for the former Falcon College star.

This came just 24 hours after another bunch of Zimbabweans in Durban powered Sharks Club XV to a 62-12 against Griffons in the final of the South African Rugby Union Central Amateur Provincial Championship.

The first half of the final was competitive with the KwaZulu-Natal team working their way into a 22-12 lead at the break, but the Sharks ran riot in the second half, while they denied the Griffons any further points.

With the Zimbabwean quintet of forwards Biselele Tshamala, Royal Mwale, Sanele Sibanda, Witness Mandizha and winger Shayne Makombe in the Sharks Club XV, the side won the right to represent the Midlands Province in the second round.

Mwale was the only Zimbabwean to touch down.
In two weeks’ time they will take on Western Province before playing the Leopards.

However, Tshamala is the one causing the waves after being named the Most Valuable Player for his league.
“I was not really looking forward to the MVP achievement but was playing my game as I have always done, helping my team win the Cup and it would have been better winning both the award and the (league) Murray Cup.

“But winning the award means a lot and shows that I am improving my game by the day which is what I have always wanted to achieve.
“As Zimbabweans we are here to compete and make a name for ourselves, not just to make up the numbers, and playing along the guys I have played with in the national team (Sables) makes it easier to settle in.