SCINTILLATING five tries from the hosts Zimbabwe against defending champions Uganda, ensured the Cheetahs qualified for the quarter finals after group matches of the Paramount Garments Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament played at Harare Sports Club.
The Cheetahs started the tournament nervously, drawing their first match against Burkina Faso 12-12.
However, the Cheetahs turned the heat on Algeria beating the North Africans 47-05 to keep their knock out berth hopes alive.
It was however the way that Zimbabwe dismantled the defending champions that sent tongues wagging.
Tapiwa Matoramusha beat the Uganda defence for pace to score the first try of the match. Ryan Musumhi converted from a tight angle to give the Cheetahs the much needed two points in a game of small margins.
With both teams knowing that a victory will give them an easier path to the semi-finals by avoiding the South Africa Blitzboks, both teams played like their life depended on it.
The mercurial Tapiwa Mafura scored a try out of nothing to give the hosts a 14-0 lead going into the halftime after Musumhi successfully converted from the kicking tee.
Ugandan Cranes needed to hit back fast after the restart and they did just that bringing the game back to life at 14-5 after they failed to convert.
The Cheetahs juggernaut was not finished yet, former Waikato Chiefs player Brandon Mudzekenyedzi dotted over for the white wash for Zimbabwe’s third try of the match. Musumhi could do no wrong with boot, once again converting to give Zimbabwe a 21-5 lead.
It continued to rain tries at Harare Sports Club, this time it was Musumhi’s turn to score after some good work again from Mafura.
After a successful conversion, at 28-5, there was no coming back for Uganda from here.
A voiceforous Uganda contingent of about 20 people went quiet as the home supporters voices could be heard from afar.
The Cheetahs were not done yet, captain Godfrey Magaramombe ran the length and breadth of the field to score a solo try which was duly converted by substitute Shadrack Mandaza to give Zimbabwe a 35-5 victory over the defending champions, Uganda.
The victory gives Zimbawe a quarter-finals berth against Madagascar and if they beat the Islanders they should meet East Africa giants Kenya or northern neighbors Zambia on Sunday.
