By RONALD CHAWE –
Arrows 21 KPF 0 (abandoned)
KITWE Playing Fields (KPF) forfeited points after insisting on using three banned players for their National rugby league (NRL) Week Nine league match against champions Red Arrows.
Defiant KPF named Benaya Mukwamba, Fine Chikumbi and Patson Kasonde in their starting line-up despite the trio facing lengthy bans which they did not appeal against.
Mukwamba and Kasonde were banned for 10 years while Chikumbe was slapped with an eight year ban for allegedly attacking referee Joseph Ingwe on April 23 in KPF’s 6-3 Kitwe derby home loss to ‘Men At Work’ Diggers.
Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) officials tried to reason with KPF to remove the banned players or risk losing points but the Kitwe side remained defiant insisting on using the players.
After 30 minutes of unfruitful negotiations, the match was abandoned pending a ZRU decision though in principle Arrows get a 21-0 win.
Nkwazi 20 Diggers 5
Diggers suffered a humiliating defeat away at Nkwazi who leap-frogged them to go second position as the weekend games recorded intriguing results.
Mathews Kasheka and Peter Lishika scored a try each with Laston Mukosa making conversions and added scored two penalties while the visitors replied through a try goal by Raymond Mweshi. Nkwazi moved to 21 points while Diggers have 20 points.
Chibuluma 9 Lusaka 7
Chibuluma overpowered ‘Powerhouse’ Lusaka with Kenny Bwalya scoring a hatrick of penalties while Michelo Shelleni placed a try which was later converted by Israel Mwanza as the midlands side went back home with a point.
Eagles13 Buffaloes 5
Fifth-placed Green Buffaloes were also on the receiving end as they were hammered by second from bottom Green Eagles thanks to tries by Chileshe Malama and Mcloud Chanda and apenalty by George Mwape. Buffaloes could only reply via a try by Chipo Mubagwe unconverted try.
In the B league, Mufulira whitewashed Roan 52-11 as Nchanga won away at Kansanshi 15-3.