Sports Reporter
FIVE Southern Region rugby teams have started preparing for the Summer Sevens Series that is expected to roar into life next month. Four Bulawayo clubs, Old Miltonians, Jaguars, Warriors, Police Bulldogs and Masvingo’s Ancient City Chiefs, all took part in a Matabeleland Rugby Football Board (MRFB) organised tournament held at Hartsfield Ground in Bulawayo on Saturday.
OMs won the competition played in a round-robin format, beating all the four teams. The Bulawayo giants beat Jaguars 33-14 in the opening match, Ancient City Chiefs 21-7, Warriors 19-14 and clobbered Police Bulldogs 14-0.
Warriors were the tournament’s runners-up after recording three wins. They beat Police Bulldogs 28-7, Jaguars 21-7 and Ancient City Chiefs 28-7.
Bulldogs had two victories against the visiting Masvingo side, which they beat 14-5, and defeated Jaguars 12-5.
Jaguars edged Ancient City Chiefs 14-7 in the last match of the weekend.
MRFB chairman Theo Weale said they will continue with local competitions from which they will choose two strong teams to send to the Summer Sevens Series in Harare next month.
“Our tournaments are meant to keep guys from the southern region match fit so that by the time we go for the national competition in Harare sometime next month, they stand a chance of making it into the Cheetahs’ training camp. As a region, we would be happy to see a few of our players making national teams’ grade,” said Weale.
He said they are hoping a Gweru club participates in the next MRFB tournament to be held this Saturday at Hartsfield Ground.
MRFB Sevens tournament results
OMS 33-14 Jaguars, Warriors 28-7 Police Bulldogs, OMs 21-7 Ancient City Chiefs, Jaguars 7-21 Warriors, Police Bulldogs 14-5 Ancient City Chiefs, OMs 19-14 Warriors, Jaguars 7-12 Police Bulldogs, Warriors 28-7 Ancient City Chiefs, OMs 14-0 Police Bulldogs, Jaguars 14-7 Ancient City Chiefs