Heartbreak for Zimbabwe at last-gasp as Uganda dominate hosts in match day two

SAN-PEDRO – It was a day of contrasting games on match day two of the Rugby Africa Women’s Division One tournament as Tunisia and Zimbabwe wowed the enthusiastic San-Pedro crowd with a closely-fought contest while Uganda dominated hosts Côte d'Ivoire in a one-sided affair, on Tuesday.

Tunisia defeated Zimbabwe 27-24 in a game of a momentum swings throughout, with both teams appearing to have snatched the win at separate occasions in the final moments of the cliff-hanger.

With Zimbabwe leading 24-20, play didn’t stop as the full-time hooter was sounded. The Lady Sables let themselves down in that crucial stage, committing infringements and getting penalised by Kenyan referee Victor Ojuku.

It was from one such incidents that replacement front-rower Halima Charrada surged over from a driving maul to give Tunisia a last-gasp win.

But this was before Zimbabwe, who at one time trailed by 12 points, had rallied from behind to nose ahead courtesy of breakaway tries by inside-centre Nokutenda Shoriwa and winger Ruvimbo Mudyanadzo.

In the second match at the Stade Auguste-Denise, Uganda cemented their status as favourites to win the competition with a thumping 52-0 win over Côte d'Ivoire.

Uganda – now the only side with a 100 percent record after two matches – ran in 10 tries and dominated an Ivorian side that struggled all afternoon to contain the East Africans physicality upfront as well as the backline’s potency.

Zimbabwe couldn't hold on to their last-minute lead and agonisingly lost to Tunisia.

Coach Charles Onen’s Lady Cranes will now conclude the round-robin tournament against Zimbabwe on Saturday, April 19 with Côte d'Ivoire finishing against Tunisia. The tournament winner will earn promotion to the elite Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in June, where South Africa, Kenya, and Madagascar await in what promises to be a thrilling showdown of the continent’s best. – Rugby Africa