HARARE A were the biggest winners on the opening day of the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-14 trials at Falcon College in Esigodini on Friday with a 43-7 triumph over Matabeleland.

The Tatenda Museba coached youngsters were in rampant form as they led 26-0 at halftime. In the end, the lads from the capital city scored seven tries, four conversions while Matabeleland only managed one converted try.

Second centre Brendan Jameson scored two tries, the same as eighth man Tatenda Chara while wings Tasimbiswa Kadziyanike, Tanatswanashe Luciano and flank Daniel Anderson went over the whitewash once. Flyhalf Connor Grant booted in the conversions. Wing Farai Mbaiwa scored the only try for Matabeleland. 

In the other matches, Harare Development defeated Central 24-0 with Harare B 17-7 victorious over Select.

National Under-14 coach, Gordon Pangeti said he was excited by the display of the prospective Junior Sables. He pointed out that the first day gave them an opportunity to see how the players work together and how they position themselves.

“Basically we have had some exciting rugby, we have been looking at positions of the players, not really the results per se of the matches so we have been going through position by position, trying to see how well coached they are in their schools and how different players work together,’’ said Pangeti.

The trials head into the final day with Harare A taking on Select, Matabeleland up against Harare Development and Harare B squaring off to Central.

At the end of the assessments, the national selectors, Pangeti, Derek Chiwara, Bryan Ray and Edgar Somerai are expected to come up with a Zimbabwean side for the annual Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week set for Grey College in Bloemfontein, South Africa from 10 to 14 July.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-14 rugby trials day one results 

Harare Development 24 -0 Central, Harare A 43-7 Matabeleland, Harare B 17-7 Select

Day two fixtures

Harare A v Select, Matabeleland Select v Harare C, Harare B v Central, Possibles v Probables

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