Rhinos Swamp Tuskers

Shingirai Madondo | Monday June 30, 2014 06:59

 

The 70-0 home loss was Tuskers’ worst defeat of the season. The Francistown side is currently second from the bottom in the league standings.

 It has been a tough season for Tuskers, who returned to active and competitive rugby after five years on the sidelines. Five years ago, they lost players and financial backers after the mining sector bore the brunt of the world credit crunch. On Saturday, Tuskers’ lack of cohesion was exposed as they defended poorly and lacked punch in attack. The visiting Rhinos started the rampage as early as the fifth minute when they scored the first try through the awesome Katlego Mohutsiwa. For some strange reason, Rhinos’ trusted converter, Tshoganetso Katse repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion. In 11, attempts he only succeeded five times. He was the weakest link in a hungry side.  

Under the captainship of veteran Munyaradzi Mhonda, Rhinos’ players made some perfect off the ball runs. On average, Rhinos were scoring a try every six minutes and by halftime, they were 42-0 up.   In the second half, Tuskers tried in vain to take the game to the visitors.  After trying hard in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, Tuskers could not make a breakthrough. Osi Kopano and Terrence Mbongwe tried in vain to use the right flank and break the Rhinos’ backline. Halfway through the last stanza of the game, Rhinos started launching attacks and eventually scored three more tries.