ISAZ 7s Rugby

Last week Saturday on the 13 of February, over mid-term break, we traveled to Simba for the ISAZ 7’s Rugby. The tournament comprised of four schools: Simba, Mpelembe, Chengelo and Amano. The fixtures were round robin, our first game was against Chengelo, the toughest and most experienced team; and since we were a new team, with much less experience in such a field, it was hard for the players to adapt into their roles and positions. Because of this we were under pressure throughout the game, having to defend Chengelo at our try line. Even though we had opportunities in the game, because we lacked experience, we didn’t use them wisely; so they took advantage of that and continued to hammer us with their big guys, but because we stood strong as a team we managed to seal a 0 - 0 draw against Chengelo

New boy Philip on a break away

Our second game was against Simba, which even though it wasn’t as tactical as our earlier game, it was definately a whole lot more physical. They had guys twice our size running at us, which was their plan because they weren’t fast, just really big and heavy. In the first half their strategy worked well seeing as we spent most of it in our half, but when the second half came it was a complete switch over. After our discussion with Mr Grove we went to the second half more aware of our mistakes. Which allowed to us to really progress more strongly into the game by moving the ball around and finally we started to get our breaks. With a vigorous run by Musonda all the way from half way to the Simba try line, but just before he got to it he made the mistake of putting it down, then after celebrating his joy was dropped when he realized his fault sadly. Then we also had a couple of tenacious runs from Philip who stormed down the rugby field but every time he was halted a metre from putting it down. He was slammed by the Simba defence, but then we made a crucial mistake by two of our men going for one of Simba's giants. Which allowed them to off load the ball to the wing and score a try. Luckily they missed the conversion but right afterwards we came back with an energetic drive getting us right by the try-line then with a quick recycle Mwansa scored a try. He then went on to seal our win with the conversion kick ending the game 6-5 [all kicks were 1 point only] to us.

Mwansa evading Simba for a try

Then finally for our last game we went against Mpelembe, the last years champs, which even though they had a fairly new team still comprised many of their key men. We started the game tensed,  both coming at each other with everything we had, as it was both our last game; but finally to break the dead lock, we worked as a team challenging Mpelembe's defense till it finally broke. When they made a critical mistake by taking our one guy down with two of their guys it allowed us to pass the
ball down to our winger James who made a emphatic run from our try line all the way to their try-line. Then Mwansa came to finish of with a conversion kick and everything seemed to be going well until "the knock" happened. Philip and one of Mpelembe's players came charging into each other, colliding face first, which left Philip knocked out cold. After both guys were escorted off the field we made our substitution and the game continued. Since we didn’t have any other players who play in the scrum [Justin was off in the first game with a head injury] we put in our fellow speedster Theo. Who even though had never played prop in his life before and even though he did struggle in the contact and position role, he still made a great partnership with Paul on the wing, getting the ball moving fast and challenging the Mpelembe defense to drop; but sadly we made a decisive mistake on one of the scrums, which lead to Mpelembe scoring a try and coming right back into the game to end it in a tie at 6-6.

Tarisai in the action against Mpelembe

Overall I believe the team played stupendously, seeing as it was their first time getting involved in anything as physical as this. Plus they didn’t know the roles of their positions and lacked experience. So I'd just like to thank all of them, even though I didn’t mention people like Tarisai and Mthunzi who helped keep a strong back, Cholwe for giving the other scrumhalf a rough time.

2nd Place and happy

Overall we came out second in the tournament, we were also the most awarded team with Mwansa winning "Best young player for Amano", Philip won "Player of the tournament" and James
won "Best Try of the Tournament".