By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
Lusaka 17 Arrows 18
TERRY Kaushiku scored five penalties as unbeaten Red Arrows compounded ‘Powerhouse’ Lusaka woes in a nerve-cracking National Rugby League (NRL) Week Four match to maintain their two-point lead.
Hot on their heels are promoted Kitwe Playing Fields (KPF) who have continued to shock big guns to be on 14 points and emerged as serious contenders to challenge Arrows for the title after creating a five-point gap with the rest of the leading pack.
The match involving ‘Men at Work’ Diggers and Green Eagles was rescheduled to a later date after the referee failed to show up.
Lusaka’s difficult start to the season continued with a defeat that left them bottom of the log with two points from their three games played.
McGiven Muchindu and Bika Harry scored a try each with Israel Kalumba making the two conversions and a drop goal which was not enough as the home side lost by a point.
Arrows, who finished the 2015 season undefeated, seem to be on course to achieving that feat thanks to a Kaushiku inspired performance that saw him net five penalties as Emmanuel Daka scored a penalty.
Chibuluma 12 KPF 18
Benaya Mukwamba and Paston Kasonde each scored a try as KPF stunned Chibuluma in Kalulushi to maintain a good start to the season that has seen them lose once in the four matches played.
Mukwamba went on to score one conversion before scoring two penalties to seal KPF victory over a Chibuluma side that scored tries through Felix Mwiya and Mwamba Kabeya from which Ken Bwalya managed one conversion.
The defeat left Chibuluma second from bottom on three points having played a game in hand.
Buffaloes 5 Nkwazi 14
Nkwazi got back to winning ways thanks to an emphatic win over fellow defence forces side Green Buffaloes in a match played in Lusaka. The win moved Nkwazi up to nine points same as fifth placed Buffaloes.
Fernardo Kashimoto scored a try for Buffaloes which he failed to convert while Nkwazi scored two tries through Peter Lishika as Laston Mukosa easily made the conversions.
Meanwhile, in the NRL B division, Nchanga succumbed to a 11-18 home defeat to Mufulira as ‘Killer Bee’s’ Ndola Wanderers beat Roan 14-17 away in Luanshya as the match between Kansanshi and Prisons was rescheduled as the latter had no transport while Konkola were on bye.