Hondo hails team character

RUGBY outfit, Harare Sports Club’s centre, Daniel Hondo, has hailed his side’s “fantastic achievement” as the log leaders remain the only undefeated side in the National Rugby League (NRL) this season. But more importantly for Sportivo, as the club is affectionately known, the 2012 NRL champions have taken bragging rights over their arch rivals, Old Hararians Sports Club, with a hard fought 34-28 victory in a derby watched by a large crowd at Harare Sports Club.

Matches between these two rivals are arguably the biggest and much anticipated encounters on the domestic rugby league calendar. Sportivo recovered from a poor start in which their neighbours took a 21-13 lead into the break before its solid second half performance which carried them away to a convincing win as the second half wore on to remain top of the log standings.

The first half was a cagey and tense period with both teams trying to find gaps in the opposing defensive line but eightsman, Takunda Chifokoyo suddenly found a gap and scored the opening try for Old Hararians Sports Club while captain,Tichafara Makwanya converted the try with a swiftly struck kick at the centre post. With the home side failing to get their act together with their defence dropping down like flies while there wasn’t a great deal of trickery in their attack , the Green Machine kept piling on the points with Taurai Jani and Tawanda Chowe scoring other tries for the Old Hararians Sports Club and Makwanya scoring three penalties in the first half.

With everything pointing to Old Hararians Sports Club victory, Sportivo came back from the breather with some solid breakdown work and some strong runs from Osbourne Muhambi who carried a couple of defenders throughout the second half. A stirring second half saw Harare Sports Club fightback with Phillimon Machisa scoring double tries while Kudakwashe Chisepo, Muhambi and Tedius “Boxer” Whata scoring other tries for Sportivo who won the title in 2012. Whata converted three times and scored a penalty.

Sportivo’s Daniel Hondo showed the full emotions of the victory during an interview with the Financial Gazette Sport after the match.

“Yeah, you know derby matches are always tough so we came here (Harare Sports Club rugby ground) knowing that Old Hararians have a great pack. Our first half was very close and we went all 13-21 points and we were like we had to work out something in the second half. We had our hearts ripped out and confidence was low but I am happy we started to click in attack and we took control of the second half and the scoreboard reflected our dominance. Beating OH (Old Hararians) who are our big rivals is a fantastic achievement as our main goal is to win the championship this year. So I think if we can go all the way the whole season without being beaten we will be happy. That is what we are trying to do. We work out for each other and hopefully end of the season we will be champions.

“It’s always good when you are winning games,it gives confidence so hopefully we can keep it going throughout the season. There is going to be a break and we are going to see how we can come back and still perform the way we were doing,” said Hondo who also captains the Sables. After what has been a tough loss to take for the defending champions who also lost to the Old Georgians Dragons 32-36 a fortnight ago, the Green Machine’s winger Tafadzwa “MaRubber” Chitokwindo was disappointed but was still hopeful they can re-ignite their tittle defence.

“We had the energy and all the power in the first half but we were not in it in the second half. But I think it’s not like the end of the world. We keep on getting stronger in certain areas. Like now we are building in certain areas and each game comes with new possibilities. So I think we are still in the game. We don’t doubt we can still defend our tittle.”

The result knocked Old Hararians Sports Club off second position and have now gone down to third position on the log standings with Old Georgians Dragons who thrashed Zishavane Bulls 87-0 over the weekend taking up the second position. At Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo, Matabeleland Busters beat city rivals Western Panthers 51-19 while Old Miltonians picked up their first win this season after defeating visiting Gweru Sports Club 34-25.

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