VISITING Police Defenders caused an upset in the Intercity Rugby League when they beat Matabeleland Warriors 36-29  in an entertaining match played at Hartsfield on Saturday. 

It was the third win of the season for the Police Defenders while for Matabeleland Warriors, their decline continued as it was their third defeat of this campaign.

Number eight, Innocent Nyatsanza opened the scoring for the Police Defenders with a try after a brilliant cross kick by Stanley Nhamo who however missed the conversion. Warriors fought back with a try scored by wing Mbongeni Sibanda with the conversion by Theodore Chiremba successful to put the home side 7-5 in front. Wing Emmanuel Mazikana scored the second try for Warriors but Chiremba missed the conversion.

Police Defenders refused to back down, Nhamo outpacing the Warriors defence to score his team’s second try, the conversion by Prince Ncube making it 12-12. Wing Roland Chitokwindo put the ball over the line for the Police Defenders’ third try, the conversion by Ncube putting the visitors 19-12 in ahead.

Lock Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa scored the third five-pointer for Warriors only for Chiremba to miss the conversion.

Wing Valentine Nkiwane went over for the fourth try for the visitors, the Ncube made sure with the extra two points with a successful conversion. Skipper Mbonisi Mafu scored the fifth try for the Police Defenders, Ncube weighing in with the extras to give the visitors a 33-17 halftime lead.

Warriors came back a better side in the second half, Nyakufaringwa scoring his second try of the match and Terence Nyoni booted in the conversion. Sibanda also grabbed his second try of the match only for Nyoni to miss the conversion that would have drawn his team closer.

Ncube booted in a penalty goal to stretch his team’s lead and they held on for a famous victory.

Old Miltonians defeated Gweru Sports Club 34-16 in Gweru while Harare Sports Club beat Mutare Sports Club 51-3. Sportivo scored eight tries, four conversions and one penalty goal while Mutare Sports Club could only manage one penalty goal. Zimbabwe Sables captain Denford Mutamangira was shown a straight red card by referee Simbarashe Dangah for retaliation and punching an opponent. Casper Bandi of Mutare Sports Club was also sent off while two of his teammates were shown yellow cards.

Only three matches were played in the ICL this weekend with two others cancelled as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union failed to secure funds to transport the away teams. 

@Mdawini_29