Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE suffered their second defeat in the Regal Hotels Cup of Nations competition when they lost 11-34 to host nation Hong Kong at King Park Stadium yesterday.
The loss means the Sables are out of contention in the four-nation tournament as they only have one more fixture remaining against Papua New Guinea on Saturday.
Hong Kong led 17-3 heading into the halftime break, with the home side scoring two converted tries and a penalty goal, while the Sables managed a penalty booted in by flyhalf Lenience Tambwera.
In the second half, Hong Kong scored a further 17 points, while Zimbabwe could only manage eight points, an unconverted try by replacement backline player Bradley Ellse and a penalty goal kicked in by Tambwera.
Yesterday’s defeat means Cyprian Mandenge’s Sables have now lost nine matches in a row, a losing streak that started last year when they were clobbered 6-80 by Namibia in an Africa Cup Division 1A fixture staged in Windhoek.
Sables team against Hong Kong
Denford Mutamangira (captain), Tolerance Zishe, Lawrence Cleminson, Witness Mandizha, Michael Passportis, Biselele Tshamala, Connor Pritchard, Andrew Rose, Kuziwakwashe Kazembe, Lenience Tambwera, Stephan Hunduza, Riaan O’Neil, Kudzai Mashawi, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Lungile Tshuma
Reserves: Matthew Mandioma, Irvine Nduwa, Brian Makamure, Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, Osborne Muhambi, Tichafara Makwanya, Bradley Ellse, Gavin Nyawata