Old Johannians team manager Roger Woodward says he feels sorry for Sports Club that they were not able to train during the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy tournament but they will not feel pity for the Red Lions on the field of play.

“It’s sad and I feel sorry for them (Sports Club) that they had not been able to train during the world tournament but our focus is making it for the play-offs and it’s good that we have been improving with each passing week under coach Alex Nichols.

“Our focus is on Sports Club and we would like to be a side that can beat the big teams, we have had our best preparation but we will take it slowly and we are getting fitter as the season progresses,” said Woodward.

With an array of excitingly different fixtures set for Police Grounds on Saturday afternoon, this will mark the return of games to Police Grounds – the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean rugby – after 20 years.

Old Johannians and Old Hararians are hoping for Gold Cup excitement while Police Defenders want to move off the bottom.

Harare Province Rugby League second placed Old Boys are a point behind leaders Old Georgians Sports Club who they are hoping to upset in a top-of-the-table clash that will also serve as the main game at the Police Grounds this afternoon.

The winner here will not only finish the first half of the season on top of the log standings but, more importantly, earn a home semi-final in for the Gold Cup battle in two weeks’ time while the loser will
have to travel to Bulawayo.

Old Johannians – who are fourth on the log – face third placed ailing giants and champions Harare Sports Club who last week suffered a 52-5 loss to Old Georgians and the winner here will also be guaranteed of a Gold Cup play-off slot.

“Takudzwa Francesco and Takudzwa Kumadiro who both joined us from Sports Club in the pre-season have been fantastic for us and last weekend they played wonderful rugby so they will once again be key in Saturday’s game.
“They indicated to us that they were not happy with some things at Sports Club but here they have grown confident, they are happy with us and that (them being happy) is key in our team,” added Woodward.

And in a bid to try and move off the bottom of the table, hosts Police Defenders have a tricky encounter against Mutare Sports Club in a battle between two sides who are yet to pick a win so far this season.

Fixtures: Police v Panthers (Women 11am), Harare Sports Club v Old
Johannians (12pm), Police Defenders v Mutare Sports Club (1.40pm), Old
Hararians v Old Georgians (3.10pm)
*All games at Police Grounds