Rugby: Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup |02 June 2023

After the first round of the league, Hanekom is leading the top scorer’s list with 53 points (Photo: Roland Duval)

Unbeaten first round for Sharks

After the first round of the 2023 series, Sharks are still leading the ranking in the Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup League, having collected maximum points from five victories in as many matches played.

They have concluded the first leg of the series on 15 points, after registering their fifth consecutive victory last weekend, beating Marlins 39-10.

Johannes Hanekom scored 15 points to finish as the match’s top scorer.

After the first round, Sharks have scored 204 points, while conceding 51.

The defeat placed Marlins last in the ranking after having collected three points from a single win and four losses out of five matches played.

They have scored 94 points, while conceding 188.

Flying Foxes have concluded the first round of the league second overall on 12 points from four wins and a defeat out of five matches played, scoring 194 goals and conceding 124.

In their last first-round match they defeated Black Parrots 37-25, with Ricky Scholtz voted as man-of-the-match after scoring 12 points.

As for Black Parrots, the defeat keeps them fifth overall on three points from a single win and four defeats, having scored 135 goals and conceded 164.

Pirates have concluded the first round of the league in third position on six points from two wins and three defeats.

In their last match of the first round, they beat Snappers 27-17, with Fred Hypolite scoring 17 points to be voted as man-of-the-match.

Pirates have scored 105 points, while conceding 137, pushing Snappers into fourth position with the same points tally, but an inferior goal difference.

Snappers have 170 goals for and 208 against.

After the first round of the league, Hanekom is leading the top scorer’s list with 53 points, ahead of Gift Muthami of Black Parrots who is second after scoring 51 points. Muthami’s teammate Missa Ngazidja has scored 45 points.

The second round of the Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup League will begin on June 17 when Sharks will meet Pirates, Flying Foxes will play against Marlins, and Black Parrots will meet Snappers.

Roland Duval