By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
NKWAZI yesterday put up an impressive performance to book a place in the quarterfinals of the David Abel Ray Phiri (DARP) International Rugby Challenge at the Lusaka Rugby Club.
Joining Nkwazi in the last eight was Zimbabwean Harare Sports and the two teams were last evening expected to battle it out for top slot.
Other matches yesterday were by press time underway with hosts ‘Powerhouse’ Lusaka seeking a quarterfinal berth along with ‘Men At Work’ Diggers from the other groups.
Nkwazi, who are also the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) national league leaders, started their campaign in Pool C beating Lusaka B 27-0 before sealing their qualification with a 28-10 win over Kitwe Playing Fields (KPF).
Peter Lishika scored two converted tries with McDonald Mashawo, Andrew Mupeta and Laston Mukosha contributed a try apiece while KPF scored two tries through Andrew Milimo that Saviour Bwalya and Chipasha Chimutukule failed to convert.
Harare 26 Lusaka B 5
Visiting Harare Sport showed that they were in Lusaka to reclaim the title won by an another Zimbabwean side Old Hararians last year after easily collecting points against Lusaka B, who endured a misery run.
Man-of-the-match for the Zimbabweans was Stephen Huduza who placed four tries of the five that were scored with Takudzwa Fransisco scoring the other while Itayi Nyakambaza made three conversions. Lusaka scored the only try through Isaac Mung’amga.
Meanwhile, other games played saw Diggers put a spirited fight winning 12-8 after going down 8-0 to beat Mufulira in Group B as Green Buffaloes beat Dar-Es-Salaam Leopard of Tanzania 12-0 in the other match.
Lusaka A, who beat Nchanga 10-5 in Group match, was leading Prob 10, a team comprising former players 7-0.