Botswana B maul visiting Lesotho

Thato Kala | Monday June 16, 2014 06:59

 

Had Botswana players been more accurate with their conversions, they could have won by a wider margin. Coach Sean Irish was pleased with the team’s performance and believes some of the youngsters can form the core of the first team in the coming years. In the early stages of the game, play was concentrated in the middle of the park with the two teams seemingly sizing each other up. But the visitors held on for only about 10 minutes before conceding a try.

Botswana got their try through Rambo Masalila but Gaborone Hogs winger, Vuyisile Moyo, who played first centre on Saturday, failed to convert.

Moyo made amends when he orchestrated an attack a minute later and that ended in a try by Omphile Debula. Lesotho sat back and allowed their opponents to come at them. They hardly created any chances in the first half with their face-saver coming through a penalty by Thabiso Modise.

But Moyo was back again for Botswana with his electric display, as he broke off to set up Harry Goabaone for another try.

Lesotho struggled to make forays upfront, often kicking forward but the Vultures managed to close them down and keep their forwards at bay.

Moyo crossed the line for the hosts to cap off a brilliant first half before further tries by Masalila and Segopotso Duntwe ensured they went to the break leading 27-3.

In the second period, Lesotho had a quiet game as Botswana continued to dominate.

After Dintwe’s  effort, two other tries by Onkabetse Mosalage and Emmanuel Ntsiwa put the game beyond the visitors’ reach.

In a post-match interview, Irish said he was overly pleased with the performance and result of the game.

“The game plan was followed continuously, the players did very well and we hope to mould this B team to make the A team a lot stronger,” Irish told Monitor Sport.

“The chairman is busy organising a friendly and hopefully in the next two weeks, we will get confirmation,” he added.

Lesotho coach, Baholo Ranga Chimombe, said despite the loss, he had drawn positives from the game. “We are learning and we can only learn from Botswana who have a more organised association. This is our first full-fledged year with local and international fixtures and we are making strides, so the next time we come here, it will be a different result,” Chimombe said.

He praised Botswana for its growth in the game. “It was a clean game, no disciplinary issues - the spirit of rugby prevailed and I am confident in the next few years this will be a fixture that will be worldwide known,” he said.