Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE Zimbabwe under-20 national Rugby team, the Young Sables showed their class after beating Harare Sports Club 36-26 in their final preparatory match ahead of the Barthes Trophy.
With the country celebrating 43 years of Independence and the fans turning up at Harare Sports Club in their numbers, the Young Sables were determined not to dampen their spirits.
The under-20 team is preparing to defend their continental title at the Barthes Trophy which starts next week in Kenya.
The starlets took on a Harare Sports Club first team that included senior national team players from the Sables and Cheetahs but that did not deter them.
The Young Sables started the match like a house on fire after scoring four early tries, three of them being converted as they outclassed their senior opponents.
Sportivo managed just a single try with the match going to the halftime break 29-7 in favour of the Young Sables.
After the breather, Young Sables coach Sean de Souza made some changes and only three players were on the field for the entire match.
Harare Sports Club captained by Kudzai Mashawi, a former national team captain then rallied back with two tries in the second half, but the youngsters put up a defensive masterclass before killing off the game with another try to walk away 36-28 winners.
The victory will see the Young Sables, who leave for Kenya this Thursday, travelling high on confidence ahead of their title defence.
