ZIMBABWE kept their core status hopes alive when they stormed into the quarter finals of the IRB World Sevens Series Hong Kong pre-qualifying event yesterday.
Report by Albert Marufu
Playing in Pool G, the Cheetahs lost their final pool match 21-12 to pool winners Russia in a closely contested tie.
However, earlier victories over Cook Islands 29-0 and Mexico 27-0 ensured a safe passage into the quarter-finals where they will play Brazil today.
Against the Russians, Njabulo Ndlovu had given the Russians an early scare just after 25 seconds with a try which was converted by Tangai “Too Bad” Nemadire.
The Russians had other ideas as they replied through tries from Igor Klyuchnikov’s, Nikolay Goroshilov, Igor Klyuchnikov. Alexander Yanyuskin converted all the three tries to seal the match for the Russians.
Garth Ziegler planted a try late in the game but Nemadire failed to convert.
Zimbabwe are gunning to earn one of the four places on offer in the 12-team pre-qualifying competition from which four teams will go to London in May for the final qualifying event for core-team status.
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The other non-core teams who will be hoping to secure core status are Tonga, Uruguay, Tunisia and Chinese Taipei in Pool E and Japan, Georgia, Jamaica and Brazil in Pool F.
