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G4S Pirates 06 MTN Heathens 15

Friday 17th February 2012

Venue: Legends Sports Bar & Restaurant

Time: 17:00

Sat 18th February 2012

Rhinos 21 XFM Impis 00(Legends Sports bar & restaurant)

Sadolin Mongers 07 UTL Kobs 28(Entebbe SS grounds)

Toyota Buffaloes 78 Nile 06(Kyadondo Rugby Club)

Nationwide league
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Boks 00 Summerkamp 15 (Legends Sports Bar & Restaurant)
Rams 19 Bootkamp 00 (Makerere University)
Stallions 12 Engsol Tigers 06 (Kyadondo Rugby Club)
Mbale Elephants 03 G4S Pirates II 26 (Mbale)

Premiership turns into yet another two horse race as Kobs maintain lead on top of the Premiership table as 14 man Heathens defeat Pirates.

G4S Pirates 06 MTN Heathens 15

We predicted a Heathens win by 15 points and Heathens won by 9 points.

Heathens scored the fastest try in the league after kick off. A quick counter ruck forced a turnover and Heathens struck like lightening with winger Jude Kerrmundu tearing down the right flank before releasing center Michael Wokorach for a try. Jude Kerrmundu’s conversion attempt came off the posts as Heathens led 5 nil. Heathens however lost winger Jude Kerrmundu who was red carded for stamping in the 20^th minute. Pirates forced a penalty that was converted by Ivan Magomu to bring Pirates close at 3-5. Pirates’ waves of attack were repulsed by an impenetrable Heathens drift defense. Heathens probing counter attacks almost yielded a try when lock Richard Barigye broke a tackle, made an awkward wobbly run before offloading to center Evans Kingasia who disbelievingly crossed the try line but butchered the try after a blindside tackle from scrambling Pirates fullback Leslie Ochieng. In the second half Heathens camped in the Pirates half scoring an unconverted try through prop Asuman Mugerwa. This put Heathens into a 3-10 lead. Then a few minutes later a clever chip through by fly half Jasper Ochen was fumbled by Pirates winger Jude Kirya under immense pressure from center Michael Wokorach as the drizzling rain made the surface greasy, Bishop Onen was on hand to pounce and score the try. The conversion was missed as Heathens increased their lead to 3-15. Pirates scored another penalty through Anthony Kinene to bring the scores to Pirates 6 Heathens 15. The Heathens were by now in total control putting up wave after wave of attack in search of the bonus point victory and poor decision making at scrum and ruck time cost them. Pirates’ fly half Ivan Magomu was then red carded for back chat after being yellow carded. Heathens Bishop Onen followed suit with a yellow card just before the final whistle. Must be worrying sign for the Pirates’ for the second week in a row they play with an extra player but fail to take advantage and end up loosing.

Moment of the match: This doubles for villain of the match. After an impressive run from Heathens lock Paul Barigye, who broke a tackle, stepped the full back and offloaded to Evans Kingasia who butchered a certain try in the goal area. Evans was got off guard by a blind side tackle from Leslie Ochieng, losing the ball in the goal area!

Nile Special Scores Prediction winner:

Sam Nikoma predicted a 5-15 score to the Heathens and won himself a Nile Special 6 pack.

Nile Special Man of the match: Arthur Mukama (8^th man Heathens), was full of industry and had many ball carries throughout the game. Always the gentleman he kept parting Pirate opponent he decked on the back. When asked about the next game against Kobs he said ‘I welcome the challenge and look forward to a good battle against Kobs’

Rhinos 21 XFM Impis 00

At Kampala Rhino’s center James Musitwa continued his rich vein of form scoring 2 tries as they made light work of XFM Impis. This sets up quite well for their 4^th place showdown against the Toyota Buffaloes this weekend in what should be one of the tightest games this season. Rhinos are currently fifth on the table.

Sadolin Mongers 07 UTL Kobs 28

Kobs travelled to Entebbe Mongers and won convincingly with a bonus point which they sealed in the last minute of the game. Steven Ogwete, Justine Kimono and James Okot were among the try scorers. The Kobs scrum dominated play at the set piece turning over the Mongers ball on numerous occasions. The line outs were also dominant but the Mongers did well to stop the Kobs driving Maul and it took the Kobs nearly 20 minutes to get onto the score board as they opted for the line out instead of the kickable points on offer. Eventually sense prevailed as the Mongers defended 2 of their mauls successfully. Oscar Echulu kicked over 2 penalties before wing James Okot fumbled the ball over the try line when he looked certain to score. He did atone for his earlier miss with a well taken try a few minutes later in the corner, for a Kobs halftime score of 0-11. Second half and the Kobs piled on the pressure as Mongers resisted. They were rewarded when Steve Cong Ogwete got a try that eased the pressure as the Kobs went to a 0- 16 lead. This seems to have sparked a Mongers revival as they brought the game to Kobs through their big men Ronald Adigasi and Andrew Olweny. From a ruck at the 5 Olweny dived over for Mongers first score which was converted by fly half Kignongo Sebalamu.

This saw the introduction of Kobs Captain Brian Odong who started on the bench and this spurred to Kobs as a few minutes later he scored Kobs 3^rd try to take the score to 21 with the kick missed by Ambrose Kamanyire. The game continued in sea saw style as the Kobs hunted for a bounus point while the Mongers were looking for a comeback. A clever move by Kamanyire put speed dynamo Kimono in the hole as he broke a couple of tackles , he was brought down short of the line but had the awareness to stretch for the bonus point try converted by Oscar Echulu for a final score of 8-28.

Man of the match was Kobs prop Oscar Echulu who kicked in two penalties and one conversion for Kobs

Toyota Buffaloes 78 Nile 06

In Kyadondo hosts Buffaloes scored 12 tries in their destruction of Jinja based Nile. Under 19 winger Philip Paryo scored two tries and slotted in 7 conversions. Veteran flanker Robert Seguya scored a brace of tries while, Allan Okello, Captain Edgar Odyek, Edgar Lemerigar, Brian Kwawun, Peter Oola and Okweda Robert all joined in on the try fest.Buffaloes now cement their fourth place position as they continue to have one of their best seasons ever.

This weekend the main attraction will be at Kampala rugby club as the Kobs take on the Heathens in a battle of 1 vs 2 on the table and the reverse 1 vs 2 on the seedings. This game will be telecast by Supersport.

UTL Kobs 21 G4S Pirates 08 Kampala Rugby Club 17:00 Hrs

Sadolin Mongers 07 MTN Heathens 37 Entebbe SS grounds 16:30 Hrs

Rhinos 59 Nile 00 Kampala Rugby Club 15:00 Hrs

XFM Imps 18 Toyota Buffaloes 35 Makerere University 17:00 Hrs

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE CENTRAL

Stallions 14 Boks 05 Kyadondo Rugby Club 15:00 Hrs

UTL KOBS barely maintain lead on top of the Nile Special Premiership after stopping G4S Pirates in an ill tempered match that saw center referee Brian Muhame brandish 4 yellow cards and a red card.

UTL Kobs 21 G4S Pirates 08

We were off the mark on a bonus point win for Kobs but close on the winning margin. We were only 2 points off the mark.

This was the pick of the weekend action and duly activated by yours truly Fanzine. The match was marred by too many stoppages and hand bag incidents as the referee struggled to take control of the game. Pirates took the lead after  a penalty from fly half Ivan Magma in the third minute. Kobs recovered from their early indecisiveness under the kickoffs to cancel Pirates lead when scrum half Kevin Makmot scored a penalty to tie the game 3 all. Very early in the game it was obvious Kobs and Pirates animosity was going the take center stage over the game. Pirates early threat gave way to some nervy defending as they continuously got caught on the back foot and infringed at the break down, giving away too many penalties. Kobs scrum half Kevin Makmot, Pirates tormentor in chief when both sides last met was on hand to land one penalty after the other in surgical precision. Pirates produced a try by Ivan Magomu that he failed to convert to bring Pirates within range at 8-12.Kobs lock Timothy Kabonero was red carded at the beginning of the half for striking an opponent. This clearly played in Pirates favor but they just could not get that unto the score sheet. The game was just too scrappy and fragmented.  Pirates flanker Timothy Dumb was sin binned, 8^th man Marvin Odong was next, then Kob’s Victor Wadia followed suit,…so did Kob’s Paul Barigye !All these for misdemeanors on and off the ball. The game degenerated into battle ground with some vicious tackles and massive decks. In the end Kobs won 21-08 after a massive kicking game from outstanding scrum half Kevin Makmot.Some joked the final scores were ‘Kevin Makomt 21 Pirates 08’.We think ‘Kevin Makmot 21 Ivan Magomu 08’ sounds a more accurate description. The lack of customary hand shake after the game spoke volumes! UTL Kobs still top the table standings on point’s difference over MTN Heathens while Pirates remain third on the table standings with 18 points.

Villain of the match: Timothy Kabonero for slapping an opponent and earning a red card. If he had not had such a rush of blood to his head, his team would have earned a penalty for the ball being deliberately slapped out of a player’s hand on the offload.

Moment of the match: This was such a scrappy and bad tempered game it’s hard to pick out a brilliant moment. So Chiropractor Steven Ogwete Kobs 8^th man will do. He made a mockery of U19 international prop Mathew Egeru decking him several times as the latter continuously ended up on his backside.

Nile Special Match Scores prediction winner: It was a tie between Lady Crane Charlotte Mudoola and Otim Vincent. They shared a 6 pack of Nile Special beer.

Nile Special Man of the match: The near flawless kicking of Kobs scrum half Kevin Makmot who kicked in 7 out of 9 attempts, clearly won the match for Kobs. His MOM  medal was presented to him by William Kyambadde –Area Sale representative from league sponsors Nile Breweries Ltd. Kevin Makmot in his acceptance speech said’’Kobs have proved skill is more important in rugby than money.’’ He also said he practices a minimum of 70 kicks at each training session.

Sadolin Mongers 07 MTN Heathens 37

We went for a 5 point Heathens win with no winning bonus point.

Defending champions MTN Heathens seem to be hitting their old form as their injury ravaged side secured their biggest ever win at the Mongers ‘House of pain’ home ground. After a close first half that ended 13-7 in favor of Heathens, the champions pulled away in the second half. With regular starters Arthur Mukama, Michael Wokorach, Benon Kizza and Dennis Mulo out with injury the defending champions scored tries through Richard Barigye, Jude Kerrmundu-2, Asuman Mugerwa, Scott Oluoch and Brian Kikaawa.

“I’m impressed we played as a team but honestly we still have some departments to improve on,” Coach Brian Tabaruka stated.

Heathens now tie with Kobs on points gained as both have 24 points from 5 games but Kobs top the table on point’s difference. Mongers slide to fifth on the table standings

Rhino 59 Nile 00

Off the mark on the prediction score (win was never in doubt) by a country mile.

Rhinos secured their first bonus point win routing hapless Nile 59 nil. James Musitwa scored four tries, while Paul Emeru, Andrew Omoding, Herbert Mukama, and Ricky Kawesa added one each. Rhinos are sixth on the table

We were ok on the prediction. Buffaloes got the bonus point win but we were 7 points off on the winning margin.

Buffaloes got their first bonus point win of the season raining 7 tries against hosts XFm Impis at their university ‘grave yard’ grounds. Winger Phillip Paryo scored a hat trick of tries while Robert Seguya, Brian Qwawun and Eric Kasita scored a try each. Buffaloes now lie fourth on the table log with 10 points.

G4s Pirates host defending champions MTN Heathens at Kampala RC in the Fanzone activated match this Friday

G4S Pirates vs. MTN Heathens (Friday 17^th February evening kick off)

Its third seeds Pirates hosting top seeds MTN Heathens at Kampala Rugby club this Friday; Pirates currently lie third on the premiership table with 18 points while MTN Heathens are second with 24 points. The last time both sides met was in the Uganda Cup semi finals when Pirates surprised Heathens, knocking them out of the competition to become the only club to defeat Heathens in 2011.Pirates welcome back inspirational winger Felix Lubega as they look to bounce back from a bruising defeat against UTL Kobs.Heathens after an indifferent start to the an injury ravaged season, appear to be hitting top form if their 37-7 score against Mongers at House of pain is anything to go by. Fly Half Jasper Bascut Ochen, Michael Wokorach and Arthur Mukama have returned from injury but full back Benon Kizza who has been out for 3 weeks still faces a late fitness test.

Prediction: Heathens  win by a 14 point score margin.

Sadolin Mongers vs. UTL Kobs

Mongers find themselves with only one win after 4 games in the league with a game in hand. After a crushing defeat at home to MTN Heathens they will want a quick recovery against Kobs, a side they have had some measure of success

against. Kobs on the other hand will want to secure a solid win to stay on top of the table before they host top seeds Heathens next week. Monger’s house of pain grounds is not an easy place to do this, considering the hosts have wounded home pride!

Prediction; Kobs win by 10 points.

Rhino vs. XF Impis

Rhino’s first victory was a thumping one with a bonus point. They seem to be ready to garner more wins and will fancy the Impis challenge on home ground.Impis after a last gasp win against Nile stuttered again on home ground against Buffaloes.

Prediction: Rhinos win by 25 point margin with a bonus point for good measure.

Toyota Buffaloes vs. Nile

Fourth place on the table log, fast improving Buffaloes will relish another win to cement their position in the top half of the table. Nile is just way out of their depth this year.

Prediction: Buffaloes win by 65 points.

We managed to catch up with the Pirates Coach, Mr. Godwin Kayangwe and asked him for his take on the game. ‘’ I expect a win, i have no injury worries. I have a full team that is ready and know what is at stake as the result of this game will decide if we are winning the league or not this year, so it has to be a win for us.’’

His counterpart Kobs Coach Fred Mudoola seemed to have an entirely different opinion,’’ as coach i treat it as any game. We will use the same approach we used against Nile, Rhinos and Buffaloes. I have a fully fit team, apart from Timothy Mudoola who is going to have a late fitness test. We are motivated and they should bring more Kenyans, i have played for Uganda against Kenya, i know their weaknesses and have beaten them before, but most of all i know what the Ugandan boys can offer.’’

The ugrugbyfanzone team will be at hand to make it an even brighter afternoon, thanks to Nile Special Lager, the No. 1 fan of rugby.

You have heard it from us at fanzone and the coaches, so be there on match day to prove who was right and who was wrong. Venue Kampala Rugby club, gates open 1:00pm.

To close it off is our quote of the weekend,

’’ What do you mean a big game? We have 10 league titles they have none, so it’s not a big game.’’ Kobs coach Fred Mudoola.

Sadolin Mongers vs. MTN Heathens

Sadolin Mongers host MTN Heathens at their ‘house of pain grounds’. Last week Mongers battled hard against Pirates eventually losing 23-18 at Kampala RC. Mongers will however look to make their home ground a fortress against the defending champions who are facing a dip in form. Heathens are still without fullback Benon Kizza and fly half Jasper Bascot Ochen, who are out with long term injuries.

Prediction: Heathens will win by just the 5 points and will not get the bonus point

UTL Kobs vs. G4S Pirates

This arguably is the contest of the weekend. High flying table leaders UTL Kobs host 3^rd place G4S Pirates in what should be a volatile Kampala RC derby. There is no love lost between both clubs, one of them a kind off shoot of the other in earlier years. Pirates were still without star players Felix Lubega and Paul Kabazzi last week. Pirates fought hard to subdue Mongers while Kobs also had to engage gears to crush a stubborn Toyota Buffaloes. Mike ’Undertaker’ Wandera returns to bolster the Kobs backrow.

Prediction: Kobs win by 15 points, securing the bonus point deep into the second half

Rhinos vs. Nile

Rhinos will fancy their first win of the season after holding the defending champions to a scoreless second half. Nile almost got their first victory last weekend but fell 14-15 to Impis.

Prediction: Rhinos win by 23 points with a bonus point.

XFM Impis vs. Toyota Buffaloes

Impis will be buoyed by their first victory of the season and will be rearing to go for a first home win of the season. Toyota Buffaloes has already given a good account of themselves against the top 4 and will be looking for a second league win.

Prediction: Buffaloes bonus point win by 24 points margin.

The Kobs, who had anticipated a huge resistance from the Buffaloes, who were still fresh off almost beating MTN Heathens the previous weekend, took no time in asserting their authority over the “understudy” team, putting a dexterous performance on their way to eventually scoring 4 tries for a 22 – 9 victory, earning yet another deserved bonus point.

Across at Kyadondo on Saturday, the roast meat guys were doing their usual thing, while Heathens tussled it out with Rhinos in their faces. 4 tries, including Scot Oluoch’s first of the season, ensured the Heathens kept right at the back of the Kobs in league standings, with only a single point dividing the 2. The Heathens obliterated Rhinos 22 – 0 in the first half, leaving the Rhino fans begging the ref to blow the half time whistle, before they become as destroyed as yet another city market on fire. It was an all different story in the second half, where a rejuvenated rhinos put heathens under pressure but to no avail as neither team got any points in the second half leaving the scores at 22 – 0.

Back at Kampala, Pirates took on the fish Mongers on the dusty Kampala Rugby Ground. The Mongers surprised the fully packed rugby club by taking a 10 – 8 lead during the early minutes of the first half after responding to a Pirates’ earlier try, pissing off the entire Pirates team, who were all along trying to be nice to their guests. The Pirates responded with a barrage of 3 more tries, and even though the Mongers managed to sneak in one more try, the game would end 23 – 18 in Pirates favor, giving them a bonus point while at it, and keeping them in sight of the number one on the table, Kobs.

In Jinja, Nile’s problems continued un-abated when visiting rioters Xfm Impis from Makerere Uni beat them – by just one point. It was 15 – 14 at the end of the game. It looks like the strength of Jinja’s river Nile, which is affected by a reduction in water levels due to the major heat in the country is also taking its toll on the Jinja side as well, they surely need prayers at this rate.

Come next Saturday, and real fireworks shall be blazing at Kampala rugby club as table leaders Kobs take on new rivals Pirates in a thriller of 2 of the most feared clubs. Come have fun, all thanks to the No. 1 fan of rugby, NILE SPECIAL LAGER.

However, this is not Nat Geo Wild, this is rugby, and the Kobs are leading the league table, but the Toyota Buffaloes are not playing around either.

Last weekend showed why the Buffaloes are not a joking subject, despite being called an “understudy” side all the damn time, that’s “familiaring” them, or “kamanyiiro” in other circles.

The Buffaloes took on their masters MTN Heathens to the wire, losing by only 2 points in an 18 – 16 thriller at their home in Kyadondo, while “Sogi” Sseguya, the veteran player that crossed from the Heathens to the Buffaloes at the start of this season was named the man of the match.

The Kobs on the other hand continued with their rampage over the weekend, obliterating the endangered species, Rhinos 48 -3, enroute to picking yet another bonus point, 3 in as many games, like they were picking greens “doodo” from the outside garden, extremely simple stuffs. At this rate, they may be called to the International Tribunal for Genocide, these are massacres!

So come this Friday, Kobs shall host Buffaloes at Kampala Rugby Club a.k.a Legends, gates open at 4.30 pm in this rugby fan zone activated match where there shall be a medal awarded to the Man Of The Match while the fans…yep, that’s you mate….shall predict the final score before the game starts and the winner (the closest to the actual score) shall walk away with 6 Nile Specials, and that’s because they were the best that anyone could find.

The Kobs have vowed to teach the Buffaloes a lesson, and send the survivors after the game back to Kyadondo with a message to their “elder brothers” the Heathens, “go there at your own risk”, while the Buffaloes have vowed to stampede the Kobs to oblivion and show why indeed they are called Buffaloes in the first place.

Fan Zone MC’s shall be on hand to guide the proceedings, and to announce you as the winner of the match predictions, prepare to get drowsed in Nile Special.

We meet.

Chicks, donning ballistic shades from “Emporio Guggi”, among other designers of 4 thou shillings shades, whilst donning the tightest of jeans from “Nantume Plaza Lockup No. 4, Prince Juuko Jeans and Lady’s wear”, turn up and fill up the rugby grounds, while emptying the fridges of all stocks of Castle Lite and Redds, as they try to figure out why that big man is chasing that small man, and why he is trying to throw him down, yet he just wants to deliver a big egg to the other side.

The male supporters and the players are overly motivated by the presence of these super lasses, explaining why Kobs is mauling teams with so many tries, one would be forgiven for thinking they were a cricket team.

The Kobs dudes are so overwhelmed by the chick fans, it should be noted that 3 of their active players (names withheld) got married recently and another 3 are on the way, how they met is another story, but u can bet at least one must be a rugby fan, “I like the way he throws people around, he will protect me….”, they say.

Other new fans that are falling into the new wave of the rugby craze, have shown enthusiasm by dropping comments on the rugby fan zone website, wondering how in the world Pirates have never won a league title, yet they talk louder than the English press supporting any England sports team! Well fans, it’s true, but they have been second many times. In fact, their trophy cabinet is gathering Jeniffer Musisi’s dust, as it has just one trophy, the Uganda Cup title, a different competition from the league, which they won in 2007, but peep this, they lost to Heathens in the semi final, but went to the boardrooms to report a certain Scott “300” Oluoch who had illegally played for Heathens, hence getting them dis-qualified. The Pirates management is very pissed that we fans can “kumanyiira” them like this, and have vowed to win this year’s league title out right, without even reporting anyone.

The Platinum DJ’s, Uganda’s illest DJ’s also help make the games a lot more cooler, by unleashing mixes only heard of in DJ mixing competitions, that way fans of the losing teams can drown their sorrows in the music tunes, as they contemplate how many points they wasted, while the winners drown their kidneys with ballistic Nile Specials.

So come every weekend, the party continues at the four rugby grounds, Kampala (Legends), Kyadondo, Entebbe (House of Pain) and Jinja(Dam waters).

Girls, we meet there.

Success is never coincidental, that’s luck. The league success so far can be attributed to not only the great organization, way cooler than that A4C stuffs, but also to the mighty sponsors, the Great Nile Breweries, with their flagship brand Nile Special taking a front seat in this effort.

It should be noted, with precise attention, that some games are handled by “Rugby Fan Zone”, and these have MC’s at the games to wow fans with the goings on, and also to help preside over the various items up for grabs during the games, courtesy of the sponsors Nile. Games to be presided over by Rugby Fan Zone shall always be announced on the site here.

Y’all may be wondering what we’re on, talkin’ bout prizes and stuff, let’s dissect the issue…….

There is always a “Man of the Match” for each game, and unlike the PAM awards, the fans are not asked to send in their messages, and no, the players do not print posters asking for votes either!

Small sticky papers are passed around to the highly esteemed former players in the galleries, former or current coaches in the vicinity and any “sangomas” in the area who may want to predict the “Man of the Match” before it even starts, as they light up their pipes and cut a chicken’s head to complete the ritual…..haha, just playin on that last one.

At the end of the game, these papers are gathered by Badru Kigundu, who swiftly rushes them to the tallying center, in the presence of the various campaign managers, and the name with the most votes is declared the “Man of the Match”, whether he has 50% of the votes or less. The MC then announces the person, who postpones going to the locker room to re-attach his dislocated shoulder, to come pick up his winner’s medal, it’s so ballistic one would think it was an Olympic gold, thanks Nile, yo de shieee!

Now before you turn elsewhere thinking “what’s in it for me”, slow your horses and peruse on, dear reader.

Fans are also issued ballot papers, blank ones, and asked to predict the game winner, but not just that, the final score is also to be written down on there. Within 10 minutes or so of the game commencing, thou loyal fans are requested to hand over the predictions to the tally center, usually located near the MC’s table, and at the end of the game, the closest prediction (u don’t believe u can actually get the exact score do ya?) gets 6 bottles of Nile Special (we’re not sure if u take the empties for free or u pay that legendary 1k for it, just come and see).

For those that may not be winners, there shall be selected games where for every 2 Nile Specials bought, u take one for free, no raffle draws or sms-ing so your number can be picked out by a computer, nah nah, buy 2, TAKE 1!! Bandanas, t shirts, capes and other ballistic paraphernalia from the great chaps at Nile are also distributed *(Terms and conditions apply) at selected games.

It should also be noted, with great delight, that the Union introduced Friday games, that way u have something to do when u are sick of looking at that bossy chap. Every other Friday shall be game day, the last one having been played this current Last Friday, so keep looking out for the fixtures, only here.