The Sunday News
Muzingaye Ncube Sports Reporter
Western Panthers………………………………….… (3) 21
Old Miltonians ………………………………………………… (5) 15
THE National Rugby League kicked off on a high note yesterday at Hartsfield Stadium with a Bulawayo derby pitting Western Panthers who got the better of their bitter rivals Old Miltonians in a closely contested match.
OMs had their opponents on their toes in the first half with an early try from an impressive Nelson Madida run but the conversion was missed by Gabisani Ndlovu.
Panthers got back to the game moments later through a Mayibongwe Ncube penalty for a high tackle on a Panthers player.
OMs had the chance to increase their lead later in the half but their penalty missed the target to send the teams to half time with scores still at 5-3 in favour of OMs.
The heavens opened and made it difficult for players to pass the ball and produce teasing runs.
In the second half it was OMs who got the first try through Madida and Ndlovu made no mistake from the conversion.
Busani Ncube of Panthers got his back into the game which for some moments had seemed to be going OMs’ way with a superb try which had the conversion missed by Mayibongwe Ncube.
Panthers kept on pressing until they got two consecutive penalties which were taken by Mayibongwe Ncube to put his side for the first time in the lead.
However, their lead was not long lived as OMs soon regained pole position through a Ndlovu penalty.
It was Panthers who had the last laugh when they got a penalty try on the stroke of full-time when their player was denied what seemed to be a clear scoring chance with referee Simbarashe Dangah going under the posts to award the penalty try.
Ncube cool, calm and collectedly converted the penalty putting his side in front, OMs tried to pull one back but it was too little to late as time was not on their side, the referee who had a good game blew the final whistle to send the Panthers bench to a rapturous ovation in celebration of their first victory of the season.
Earlier on at the same venue Matabeleland Busters cruised to an emphatic 32-3 victory over the less dangerous Gweru Sports Club.
Busters coach Ruben Kumpasa was happy for his side’s victory but said there was more work to be done if his side is to contend for top honours.
“It was a good game for the start of the season because we got the maximum points and the bonus point for scoring four tries. Albeit I still feel we should improve on our game if we are to win the league,” he said.
