WEEK 2: NILE SPECIAL PREMIERSHIP REVIEW

Nile Special Premiership

Toyota Buffaloes caused a stampede with the first upset of the season after a pulsating 23-15 victory over Entebbe Mongers in an ill tempered game.

Nile 03 MTN Heathens 80

We were correct on the winner but off on the score by 30 points!

Jinja based Nile host held defending champions for the first 25 minutes before going down 25 nil at half time. At the restart MTN Heathens run amok winning the game by a big margin 80-3 at full time. The victory came at a cost as Heathens injury woes continued to mount with centers Evans Kingasia and Michael Wokorach joining fly half Jasper ‘Bascot’ Ochen, center Gerald Sewankabo and full back Benon Kizza on the casualty list. In fact Coach Brian Tabaruka had to don kit and play as the Heathens bench was run thin. Winger Ronnie Musoke and 8^th man Arthur Mukama scored a hat trick of tries each, while Raymond Sembajjwe, Michael Wokorach, Roland Bahemuka, Joel Kimuli and Romano Ogwal also crossed the try line. In a weekend of hand bags the Heathens felt the heat from the boys from Jinja, in a week Muhammed Ali turned 70!Beleive it or not in a rather strange weekend, Heathens Tight head prop Dennis Muriithi got unto the score sheet with a drop goal!MTN Heathens remain second on the table log on point’s difference as they prepare for bruising home derby against a resurgent Toyota Buffaloes.

XFM Impis 08 UTL Kobs 75

Once again correct on the winner but off the score by 40 points!

Kobs free try scoring fest continued when they left university side Impis turning in their grave yard, after a thorough 75-08 beating! Flank Steven Ogwete’s rich vein of form continued as he bagged 4 tries. Other tries came through Brian Odong, Ronnie Lutakome, Isaac Lutwama, Barasa Andrew, Tim Mudoola, Joseph Nsubuga, Justin Kimono, and Oscar Kalyango.Kobs maintain their lead on the table log on point’s difference while Impis remain 7^th on the table.

Rhinos versus G4S Pirates

We were correct on the prediction of the winner and the bonus point.

In the Kampala rugby club derby Rhinos were subdued by Pirates who carried a 12 nil half time lead after 2 tries from Martin Karugonjo. Rhino’s scrum half Timothy Buloti did not help his club by getting red carded for stamping on an opponent. Further tries from Mpuuga Bitanywaine and Johnson Mukunzi killed off the Rhinos challenge.

Man of the match: Scrum half Davis Kiwalabye in his debut season with G4S Pirates was accurate with his ball distribution and place kicking to win the MOM award that was presented to him by Ronald Kalyegira from Nile Special.Veteran international Allan Musoke was the guest Mc for the day and revelled in the limelight!

Closest Prediction winner: Pamela Abeja won the beer sweepstakes for the closest scores prediction.She was given a Nile Special 6 pack.Pamela Abeja is a URU administrator and this left some grumbling in the crowd about insider trading of sorts!

Toyota Buffaloes versus Sadolin Mongers

The prediction here was spot on as we went with an 8 point win for Toyota Buffaloes.

The young Buffaloes side got off to a flying start scoring 10 points in the first 5 minutes. Center Alfred Bijik broke the line stepping outside two of his cross covering defenders to score next to the posts. Full back Phillip Wokorach converted to give Buffaloes a 7 nil lead. Mongers immediately gave away another penalty for Buffaloes to stretch the lead to 10 nil through the educated boot of full back Phillip Wokorach. Mongers however fought back after a brilliant move initiated by fly half Kigongo Sebalamu that was finished beautifully by center Herbert Kato. Adrian Wasswa converted the try to cut Buffaloes lead to 10-7.This was the beginning of a Mongers fight back, quickly followed by a beautifully struck 50 meter penalty by Adrian Wasswa to tie the game at 10 all. Buffalo’s full back Phillip Wokorach gave Buffaloes the lead again after nailing another penalty for the half to end at 13-10 . At the restart Mongers missed two kickable penalties as did Buffaloes. Buffaloes however scored another try after a brilliant move by the lively center Alfred Bijik, who  released full back Phillip Wokorach with a back in pass. Wokorach stepped 2 opponents to score next to the posts. Wing Alan Okello stroked in the penalty to give Buffaloes a 20-10 lead. Mongers continued to fight back with a pushover try from Andrew Olweny but the conversion was missed as Mongers cut the lead to 20-15.Buffaloes Phillip Wokorach sealed the game late with another penalty to give the home side a 23-15 win. The last quarter of the game was riddled with pockets of hand bag incidents which spilled over at the final whistle. As Mongers fly half Kigongo Sebalamu went after the referee Richard Akena to remonstrate, one of his fellow players assaulted a female fan in the crowd. This precipitated a mass brawl, spoiling an otherwise entertaining game of rugby.

Editor’s note: We regret we cannot bring you the nationwide results as URU secretariat have not released them