28 Jul 2013

BDF Cheetahs, on July 27, scored a dramatic last-minute try to overpower UB Rhinos 20-16 and win their first rugby league championship in five years. 

The army team was starring defeat in the face as they trailed 16-15 in the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) A-Division final at the University of Botswana Stadium, but got their break when centre, Kagiso Molefhi broke free to nick in a decisive try right at the end after profiting from a sloppy clearance by a Rhinos full-back.

Victory from a tough match that saw both teams exchange spells of dominance had returned the soldiers to the echelons of local rugby for the first time since the 2008 season. Cheetahs held the upper hand from the first whistle and after a period of sustained pressure on the Rhinos half Molefhi touched-down to score the first try on the 20th-minute.

Omphile Debula missed his conversion and the score remained 5-0. But the home side scored a penalty, and then their eighth-man Munyaradzi Mhonda forced home a try, and scrumhalf Tshoganetse ‘Shakes’ Katse made a successful conversion as Rhinos took a 10-5 lead midway through the first-half. 

But the university team could not hold onto their lead as their backs allowed Ponias Mandevu to score a try on the stroke of halftime. Right-wing Lekgobo Bafana made a successful conversion which handed Cheetahs a 12-10 halftime lead.

Domination of the game continued to swing from one team to another in the second half, but Cheetahs with two penalties scored by their trusted kicker, Katse seemed to have done enough to win the game as they established a 16-12 lead deep in the second half.

When Lekgobo scored a penalty to reduce the deficit to 16-15 it looked like a consolation as Rhinos were dominating the match in the closing stages. But Molefhi scored his second try of the day in the final moments to hand his team the win.

It was the third time in four years that Rhinos had lost a league final under dramatic circumstances. They were beaten 23-20 by Gaborone Hogs in 2010 and lost by a close margin again to the same opponents last year. However, the university team beat Hogs in 2011 to win the championship for the first time ever.  “It had been a long time since we played in the final and we are happy to be crowned champions again.

The game was tough but we managed to overcome them after making tactical substitutions by replacing our full-back and changing our number eight,” said Cheetahs coach Mmoloki Moroke.

He said they intend to maintain their top performances and win the league again next season. “We will play more competitive matches outside the country to raise our standards,” he said. ENDS