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NewsDay

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Busters, OG clash in NRL

Sport
While uncertainty still clouds the coming on board of a new sponsor the National Rugby League it will be business as usual in the league with some exciting matches lined up for Saturday. Reigning champions Old Georgians (OGs) would want to maintain their good start to the season when they host last season’s semi-finalist Zimbo […]

While uncertainty still clouds the coming on board of a new sponsor the National Rugby League it will be business as usual in the league with some exciting matches lined up for Saturday.

Reigning champions Old Georgians (OGs) would want to maintain their good start to the season when they host last season’s semi-finalist Zimbo Busters at Old Georgians Sports Club.

The match starts at 1630hours and will be one of the three matches in the league to be played at Old Georgians on the same day.

The other matches will pit Old Hararians and Mutare Sports Club starting 1440 hours and after Harare Sports Club Sports Club had played Air Force at 1300 hours.

However it is the match between OGs and Zimbo Busters which will draw attention as the two teams go into this match on the back of good wins in the opening round of matches last week. OGs started the defence of their title with a morale boosting 15-23 away win over city rivals Harare Sports Club in a closely fought encounter last weekend to show their title credentials.

Their opponents Zimbo Busters were also enjoying a good start in the league with a thumping 48-17 win over Air Force at Hartsfield Grounds in Bulawayo.

In an interview with NewsDay Sport, Busters coach Ruben Kumpasa said their preparations had gone well and said he was confident that his team would come out with a good result.

“We have been preparing for this game since our win against Air Force and we know that it’s going to be tough but we are confident of coming back with a good result. We have a youthful side that has been blended with experience and hopefully this season we will improve from our performance last season when we lost in the semifinals,’ said Kumpasa.

The Bulawayo side has experienced players in Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba, Lloyd Machanjaira and Japhet Ndebele and promising back rower Bradley Takawira, son of the late Arnold Takawira.

This season however they are missing the services of former Zimbabwe Under 19 and loose forward Biselele Tshamala who moved to South Africa during the pre-season. The good results enjoyed by the two teams in the opening weekend will set up a potentially bruising battle between the two teams on Saturday.

Old Hararians (OH), who beat rivals Old Miltonians in their first match, have a relatively easy assignment on paper against fast improving Mutare.

However, OH can only underrate their opponents at their own peril as they have significantly grown in confidence since towards the end of last season.

Last weekend they dismissed a much fancied Panthers side 31-12 at Mutare Sports Club to open the new season on a high.