Date: Saturday 3rd May 2010 Rwenzori 22 Rhinos 23 

RHINOS CLIMB RWENZORI 

Rwenzori had the worst possible start to the 2010 BRSS losing the Uganda derby 16-13 to a very well balanced and resilient Victoria. It was thus a must win game if they were to stay in the competition when they hosted defending champions Rhinos at KRUFC. New national team tactician Mr. Ham Onsando cut a worried figure as he had started off on a losing note. Being new to the team Ham can be forgiven for not knowing his charges but any local purist pundit would quickly agree that team selection for the franchises-injuries notwithstanding-Victoria had the better team balance with experience and youth and by far the much better back line. So for the purists it came as no surprise Victoria won the derby(though many fans were caught by surprise) but did Rwenzori have what it takes to get that much needed win against Rhinos? A look at the starting line up unfortunately sent warning signals as it appears despite having home advantage Rwenzori instead of going for broke opted for a more cautious approach. Strange coming from a team that badly needed a win. From the kick off Rhinos had the early pressure which paid off with a drop kick followed in quick succession by a corner post try from winger Leon Adongo. The conversion was missed to give Rhinos an 8-0 lead. Rwenzori’s Anthony Kinene missed a couple of kickable penalties as the home side tried to get back into the game. Rwenzori finally replied after finding touch in the Rhinos 22 meter line after an impressive line out catch and maul that was finished off by Moses Soita. Again the conversion was missed by scrum half Anthony Kinene. With the momentum on their side Rwenzori forwards won the set pieces especially the line outs mounting allot of pressure on the visitors with 2 more pushover tries from flank Robert Seguya. Rwenzori now led 19-8 .Again Rwenzori failed to keep up the pressure when a comical and needless square aimless run by lock Scott got him in trouble and isolated, giving away a penalty for holding on. A kick to touch, secured line out and impressive maul technique saw Rhinos drive over for a push over try that was not converted. This was one of MVP Scott Oluoch’s most forgettable games as he has had a terrible last 3 weeks, with a sudden and shocking deep in form. Both teams traded penalties for the half to end 22-16 in favour of Rwenzori. Too close for comfort for Rwenzori. The first half saw Rwenzori lose 2 players to the sin bin, Anthony Kinene and Robert Seguya while Rhinos always had 2 players sent to the bin At the restart it appears the Rhinos coach had a good halftime discussion with his players because they scored an early try, within 10 minutes of the restart after a number of power drives sucked in too many Rwenzori players making it easy for Rhinos to recycle the ball and score in the far corner. An impressive conversion from winger Peter Abwoga gave Rhinos a narrow 23-22 lead. Rwenzori then threatened but without ever really looking likely to score as the decision making went to shambles and the backline were rendered completely useless in attack on account of some aimless kicking from the fly half. The body language of the Rwenzori players gradually changed to that of frustrated players with no idea as to how they were going get back into the game. In fact Rhinos counter attacked dangerously and could have scored 2 more tries but for some desperate defending. Even the famed devastating mauls failed as the referee spotted the illegal truck and trailer a couple of times The scores did not change at the final whistle handing Rhinos a deserved 2^nd victory in group B. 

Man of the match: From the Rwenzori side open side Mathias Ochwo stood tall clearing all the line outs and in defense did not give the Rhinos 8^th a look in at the gain line but all credit  to Rhinos’ Peter Abuoga who run opponents rugged, attacked the gain line and kicked impressively to get the BRSS man of the match accolade

 Incident of the game: It has to go to Rwenzori’s general error strewn display. The Rwenzori half backs were too slow and so was their inside center and captain who kept getting caught in the way on the dummy run as they attempted a skip pass to the outside center. Whenever that succeeded it was so slow the Kenyans were already plastering the outside center or full back joining the line with BIG hits. Does Rwenzori or Uganda really have a competent backs coach? I know we have the players so we have to look to the team management.  

Not Cool at all: Kampala coach, BRSS transport sponsors across East Africa abandoning the Rhinos team who had to struggle to find alternative means to get back to Nairobi and Nakuru. We are informed the same happened to Victoria who traveled to Mumias and Cheetahs who traveled to Arusha. Not cool at all. Kampala Coach we want delivery not excuses. 

Man under pressure: Coach Ham Onsando has had back to back defeats and is under pressure to conjure up a winning formula before the internationals start.