Old Mutual Zimbabwe Junior Sables captain, Stuart Dodington is confident his teammates can build on yesterday’s opening win when they face a much stronger Griquas West side in their second Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week Tournament fixture at Kearsney College today.
FROM DANIEL NHAKANISO IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
Zimbabwe opened their campaign with a deserved 16-9 win over Griquas Country Districts on Monday courtesy of a brilliant last-minute try by Falcon College winger, Peter Davis just before the hooter.
And Dodington, who led his charges from the front after being named man of the match, yesterday challenged his teammates to step up for what should be tougher encounters tomorrow and on Saturday against bitter rivals Namibia.
“I think we’ve got to keep working hard if we want to win the next two games. If we play the way we did (against Griquas Country Districts) we are not going to get anywhere, we need to play at a much higher level to keep the winning momentum going because the matches will only get tougher,” he said.
The Old Mutual Junior Sables’ second fixture was drawn up as a result of their win on Monday in an attempt to get good matches.
While the Old Mutual-bankrolled Junior Sables kickstarted their campaign with a victory, their opponents today, Griquas West lost their first match 54-36 to Namibia, who the Old Mutual Junior Sables are expected to tackle in their final match on Saturday.
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The Junior Sables technical team yesterday made eight changes in line with tournament rules, where every player is expected to play at least one match during the tournament.
However, one of the changes was injury forced, as hardworking forward, Desmond Annandale misses out altogether, after suffering a concussion in the first match.
In comes versatile backliner, Martin Mangongo, who was a marvel to watch at fullback yesterday who starts at flyhalf, with the matchwinner Davis shuffling from wing to centre.
Starting XV: (1-15) – S Maringa, M Nichole, S Garnett, L Burnett, D Hutchings, T Hwangwa, T Chiwambutsa, S Dodington (captain), J Munyeza, M Mangongo R Mariwa, M MacNab, P Davis, T Marimira, N Ncube
Replacements: T Chaza, C Kundiona, G Magaramombe, T Chigwendere, C MacMillan, B Meredith, B Sachiti Annandale is out of the tournament due to concussion and not allowed to play.
