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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
RUGBY giants, Matabeleland Warriors dominated the Bulawayo 10-a-side rugby tournament round one played on Saturday at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds after convincingly winning all their games.

In the first match, the Ruben Kempis coached Warriors overcame Highlanders 12-7 before thumping Bulldogs 24-0 to make it two out of two wins.

In the other match played, Highlanders handed Bulldogs their second defeat of the tournament after overcoming them 19-7.
The tournament was however not short of drama as the fourth team, Old Miltonians walked out of their fixture against Bulldogs in the second half of the match due to player movement disputes. All their games on the day were therefore forfeited with the other teams getting a point each from them.

The matter will be under adjudication.

After the first round, Warriors are sitting in position one with seven points, Highlanders are second with four points and bottom placed Bulldogs have just one point.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) director and former national sevens coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba said they are happy with the start of the tournament as it is good for rugby and the city as well.

Gilbert Nyamutsamba

“It’s a good start to our second half of the season after finishing playing the 15s, it’s good for rugby and it’s good for Bulawayo,” he said.

Nyamutsamba said there is a need to keep the players fit as they prepare for the summer sevens series.

“We are getting ready for the sevens season and in Bulawayo we are going to have two 10-a-side tournaments,” he said.
The tournament continues next week at the same venue for the second round and Nyamutsamba hopes to see a lot of supporters coming out to watch the games as the outing on Saturday was not much.

“I’m hoping that the teams will be better conditioned and will come out and play a bit more and hopefully also get a bit more of supporters coming out,” said Nyamutsamba.

Bulawayo Province is also planning a tour next month to Botswana but are still awaiting confirmation from teams in the neighbouring country. – @brandon_malvin