22 Jul 2013

UB Rhinos made clear their intention of winning the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) A-Division title by ruthlessly crushing EMG Gunners 33-6 in the semifinal on Saturday July 20.

Victory at UB Stadium paved the way to the final for Rhinos where the university team would meet resurgent BDF Cheetahs in the title showdown this weekend.  Cheetahs edged defending champions Gaborone Hogs 29-18 in a tense second semifinal.

Rhinos, the 2011 champions, dominated the entire match and should have won by a wider margin as Gunners played below par. Scrumhalf Tshoganetso Katse put Rhinos infront with a precise penalty kick just six minutes into the match.

He then doubled the lead with another penalty near the ten-metre line as the soldiers paid the price for committing too many fouls inside their half. Ishmael Pelaelo ripped through Gunners’ backs to score the first try of the match, extending Rhinos’ lead to 11-0 midway through the first half.

Kabelo Ngwako wasted an opportunity to open the Selebi-Phikwe side’s account when he placed a penalty wide.

Katse scored his third penalty of the day, then Herbert Nkojera homed in with another try and Katse made a successful conversion to give Rhinos a comfortable 21-0 halftime lead.

Gunners threatened Rhinos’ try-line for the first time immediately after halftime, forcing the hosts to concede two penalties which were scored by Ngwako.

However, Kitso Maduo and left-wing Rambo Masalila scored second half tries, while Katse made another successful conversion to leave Gunners well beaten.

Gunners’ assistant coach Bucks Keopetswe conceded that the opponents were too good for his boys. “They were the better team,” he said.

Rhinos’ coach Mooketsi Ramakena said things became easy for his team because it was able to dominate on the scrummages and line-outs.

Rhinos qualified for the semifinals after finishing top of the league standings while Gunners came fourth. ENDS