THE Zimbabwe Sables managed to impress on their return to action with a 31-08 victory over Zambia at the Machinery Exchange Harare Sports Club in the capital in what was dubbed as the battle of the Zambezi.
Zambia started brightly from kick-off, putting pressure on Zimbabwe, but the hosts used the rush defence to good effect forcing the visitors to make mistakes.
The first 10 minutes of the match was a cagey affair as both teams struggled to trouble the scorers.
The host finally got going when outside centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi crashed over in the 13th minute to register the match’s first try. Skipper Hilton Mudariki failed to add the extra two points.
Zimbabwe stepped a gear up when eighth man Aidan Burnett planted another try, but this time Mudariki found his bearings slotting the conversation home.
Brendan Dawson’s troops finished the first half with the flourish as they added two more converted tries through loosehead prop Doug Juszczyk and flank Tonderai Chiwambutsa.
In the second stanza, the sables ran out of steam as they only managed one try as Juszczyk completed his brace. Most players started to show the lack of game time as some last played 18 months ago before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zambia had a better second half, and their efforts were duly rewarded with an unconverted consolation try by fullback Jubilee Chisanga.
David Kaloko scored a penalty right at the death to try and bring respectability to the score-line for Zambia.
Sable’s gaffer Brendan Dawson would be happy with the final score-line but not with certain phases of the game and the lack of ruthlessness by his charges.
Dawson and his technical team did a couple of experiments in some key positions, and some of them worked well while some did not click, especially the one at flyhalf.
Riaan O’Neill Struggled to control the game entirely. At times he was guilty of holding the ball too long.
Italy based utility back Brendon Mandivenga felt at home in the 15 jumpers. He Joined the line well in attack, causing problems for Zambia with his dazzling lines. In defence, he brought calmness, given he was the last line of defence.
One of the bright stars of the day was outside the centre Mudzekenyedzi never set a foot wrong throughout the 80 minutes.
In other matches played, the Junior sables made the lightweight of Zambia youth select, beating them 46-08 in a one-sided affair.
Zambia women’s team denied the host a clean sweep by beating the Zimbabwe women’s side 31-22 in a highly contested match.
