Simbas fall to Zimbabwe in Victoria Cup

South Africa's Stedman Gans is tackled during the World Rugby Sevens Series match between South Africa and Kenya at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on January 26, 2019. [AFP]

National men’s 15's rugby team, Simbas, suffered their second loss of the Victoria Cup after going down 30-29 to Zimbabwe in a closely contested match at the Hartsfield Rugby grounds in Bulawayo yesterday.

The result, Zimbabwe’s first victory over Kenya since 2015, saw the southern Africans remain unbeaten in the four-team competition which also has Uganda and Zambia.

Simbas, who lost to Uganda in their opener in Kisumu, now turn their attention to the return match against Zambia in Nairobi on August 24 before wrapping up their campaign at home against Zimbabwe next month.

In yesterday’s tie, the hosts drew first blood as England-based scrum-half Hilton Mudariki converted a try to hand them a 7-0 lead.

Against the run of play, Kenya cut the deficit through loose forward Monate Akuei, the Nakuru RFC man crossing the whitewash after sprinting from Simbas' own half. Charles Kuka failed to add the extras as the Zimbabweans held a two-point lead.

SET PIECE PROWESS

Zimbabwe responded almost instantly through prop David Makanda who scored their second converted try after latching onto a cross-field kick. Mudariki then struck a penalty to stretch the lead for the Brendon Dawson-coached side.

Kenya, who struggled to deal with Zimbabwe’s set-piece prowess for the better part of the early exchanges, grew into the match and their efforts paid off with Impala Saracens full-back Antony Odhiambo scoring a five-pointer as Jacob Ojee sent his kick wide.

Billy Omondi squandered a good chance to score Kenya’s third try after he was undone by poor handling of the ball.

Akuei would then seal his brace, going over between the sticks on the stroke of halftime after Ojee had done the spadework on the flank. The converted try would see the sides head to the halftime break level 17-17.

The Simbas emerged for the second half a much better side and they did not take much time in going ahead as Elkeans Musonye inked his name on the scoresheet with an unconverted try before Zimbabwe retook the lead courtesy of Biselele Tshamala’s converted try.

The lead changed hands yet again with Johnstone Mung’au scoring a converted try before Zimbabwe struck two penalties in succession.