Zimbabwe 15s Rugby team, the Sables opened their Africa Cup Division 1A campaign with a heavy loss going down 61- 15 to Kenya at the Police Grounds in Harare on Saturday 9 July.

The win took Kenya to the top of the four-team log that also has Namibia and Uganda.

The win in Harare for the Simbas is the first in close to six years - since the 23-18 win on 17 July 2010 in Victoria Cup.

The Sables found themselves trailing from the first minutes as Kenya’s Tony Onyango got the first try with Darwin Mukidza adding the extra for Simbas to lead 7-0 in the early minutes of the game. 

The Sables however responded with a penalty from fly half Lenience Tambwera to the deficit to 7-3.

Kenya further surged ahead 12-5 with a David Ambunya unconverted try before Zimbabwe responded with a try from inside centre Boyd Rouse and conversion from Tambwera to narrow the scores to 12-10.

Kenya led 24-15 at halftime. 

The Sumbas returned re-energized in the second half where they added six tries to wrap up the win with 37 unanswered points to turn the tables on the side that held their nerves to win 28-20 in a similar competition last year. 

This was Kenya’s first win since 2013.

Zimbabwe take on Uganda at the same venue in a fortnight before they travel to Namibia for their last match of the Africa Cup next month.

Lineups

Zimbabwe squad

15. Tangai Nemadire, 14. Manasah Sita, 13. Gavin Nyawata, 12. Boyd Rouse, 11. Stephan Hunduza, 10. Lenience Tambwera, 9. Charles Jiji, 8. Constantine Dinha, 7. Jacques Leitao, 6. Biselele Tshamala,5. Fortunate Chipendu,4. Tapfuma Parirenyatwa,  3. Denford Mutamangira, 2. Royal Mwale, 1. Lawrence Cleminson

Replacements; Tolerance Zvishe, Irvin Nduwa, David Makanda, Lucky Sithole, Witness Mandizha, Ernest Mudzengerere, Gerald Sibanda, Joshua Gando

Kenya Squad

1. Moses Amusala, 2. Sammy Warui, 3. Curtis Lilako, 4. Eric Kerre, 5. Simon Muniafu, 6. Brian Nyikuli, 7. Mike Okombe, 8. Tony Owuor, 9. Edwin Achayo, 10. Isaac Adimo, 11. Dennis Muhanji, 12. Nick Barasa, 13. David Ambunya, 14. Darwin Mukidza, 15. Tony Onyango

Replacements: 16. Peter Karia, 17. James Kangethe, 18. Joseph Kangethe, 19. Dan Sikuta, 20. Max Adaka, 21. Kelvin Masai, 22. Fabian Olando, 23. Innocent Simiyu