Young Sables World Cup hopes shattered

Godfrey Koti, in Windhoek, Namibia
ZIMBABWE’S hopes of qualifying for the 2015 International Rugby Board’s Junior World Rugby Trophy were shattered when they lost to Kenya 27-20 in the opening match of the Under-19 Division 1A, Confederation of African Rugby tournament. The match was played at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek.

Kenya drew first blood after 23 minutes from kick off through a try from winger Alex Olaba and another from Felix Ojow before flyhalf Billy Isabwa scored one more try to put Kenya in the driving seat inside seven minutes. Shepard Mhembere cut across from the middle to give Zimbabwe their first try of the match before the Kenyans struck once again four minutes to halftime through John Paul Kithui.

Zimbabwe went to the halftime break trailing 22-5.
The break gave the Young Sables some sort of a lift as after the resumption of the second half they seemed to have found a new lease of life, as they completely improved their ball handling and passing skills.

They were handsomely rewarded with another run from man of the day Mhembere who put the second try for his country leaving the score on 22-10.

There was a chance to decrease the deficit but Zimbabwe missed the resultant conversion. Kenya were not to be outdone as they quickly regrouped and found the gap in the middle of the park through Isabwa much to the amusement of the crowd at the Hage Geingob Stadium increasing their lead to 27-10.

Young Sables captain Thabani Munjeni displayed some heroic moves to pass the ball to an agile Tanaka Zimuto who in turn ran with the ball try-bound before stylishly passing it to Tawanda Nkosi who touched down to get Zimbabwe’s third try. This gave the Young Sables some belief that they could beat the fast and strong Kenyans. They continued to pile the pressure pushing the Kenyan backline until they got into the final third and Ivan Bawden passed the ball to a hungry and alert Mhembere who got a fourth try for the Young Sables but again the kicking wasn’t up to scratch and this left the score at 27-20.

Zimbabwe pushed in the final five minutes of the match but lost another glorious opportunity when Gabriel Sipapate dropped the ball after he had beaten Philip Kwimba. The Kenyans held their breath up to the end of the match to hand Zimbabwe their first defeat of the 2014 Under-19 Division 1A Confederation of African Rugby tournament and subsequently knock them out of the running for the 2015 International Rugby Board’s Junior World Rugby Trophy .

Zimbabwe will now play Tunisia in the 3rd place play off on Saturday at 3PM.

Young Sables starting 15: Thabani Munjeni (captain), Farai Mudariki (vice-captain), Hugo de LaFargue (vice-captain), Gabriel Sipapate, Tanaka Zimuto, Brian Nyaude, Newton Tanyanyiwa, Ivan Bawden, Shephard Mhembere, Jabulani Mutukwa, Shane Snater, Nyasha Chinorwadza, Sean Coles, Tafadzwa Mukonyora, Sean Mwayera,

Bench: Dlelo Velempini, Tinashe Gwisai, Courtney Archer, Kudakwashe Nhira, Kudakwashe Chipunza, Tawanda Ngosi, Godknows Mawara, Thulani Dhliwayo

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