| Kobs shrug off feeble Pirates challenge | |
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2010 NILE SPECIAL PREMIER RUGBY LEAGUE Saturday 13th FEBRUARY 2010 G4S Pirates 10 UTL Kobs 24 Venue: Kampala RUFC grounds Time: 1700 Hours Rhinos 12 Hima Impis 15 Venue:Kampala RUFC grounds Time: 1500 Hours Toyota Buffaloes 17 Nile RFC 19 Venue:Kyadondo grounds Time: 1700 Hours MTN Heathens 20 Entebbe Mongers 06 Venue: Kyadondo grounds Reserve League G4S Pirates II 31 Boks 7 KK Stallions 33 Buffaloes II 07 Kobs who have huffed and puffed so far show who is boss by crushing Pirates with a clinical first half display of attacking rugby. This was another were many pundits-including myself- got it wrong as Kobs despite a lethargic start to the season turned on the style to comprehensively defeat table leaders Pirates in a surprisingly one sided encounter.Perhaps as one pundit put it in one of the news print,'..this was a game of form versus pedigree'.Kobs had the winning pedigree and it showed as Pirates looked like a 'punch drunk boxer' for most parts of the game as they panicked committing a horrific amount of errors.From the moment Kob's Roger Rukundo stole Pirates first line out through to Pirates loosing their put in at the scrum it was all one way traffic.It appears Kobs coach Herbert Wafula a former Pirates coach did his home work.Kobs made a mockery of Pirates prowess at the line outs and scrummages,Pirates could only win one of their own line out in the first half.Kobs winger Lawrence Wakabi younger sibling to Rugby Cranes full back Simon Wakabi opened Kobs account with a superb 60 meter center post try as he weaved his way past the static Pirates defence.Kobs 8th man Roger Rukundo arguably the form player in that position over the last 2 years scored another try after being set up by center Tonny Luggya before Lawrence Wakabi added his second try.All tries were converted by Joel Anguyo.Pirates tried to make a game of it later in the second half with 2 late tries from Moses Soita and Dennis Etuket but it was scant consolation.1st center Tonny Luggya was back to top form as he put in a man of the match performance beating the gain line several times,assisting in 2 tries and some solid defending with his signature big hits! Some comedy was to unfold mainly due to some off the pitch tension between both clubs as fans from either club taunted each other with the Kobs fans getting louder on account of their lead.In an unforgettable chant and call session the Kobs fans kept chanting in unision 'Pirates who is your daddy?' to which to everyone's amazement even the Kobs players on pitch answered 'the mighty Kobs' How is that for some comedy? Hard fighting Entebbe Mongers fall to Heathens This is one prediction I got correct.Mongers from Entebbe town held Heathens to a first half 3-0 lead,then 8-3 with 25 minutes to go before finally being out lasted 20-6 by the defending champions.Adrian Wasswa kicked in 2 penalties for Mongers while Heathens scored two tries through Jude Kerrmundu and another through Steven Kasozi a younger sibling to injured rugby Cranes star Felix Lubega.Jude Kerremundu also converted one try and kicked in a penalty a penalty.Center Michael Wokorach and flank Robert Seguya picked up injuries and will be anxious to get fit in time for the big clash against old rivals Kobs.'It was a tough game,very good test for us.Mongers are a good side and we cannot have it all our way.That said I felt our backs did not test the Mongers line enough.The backs need to show more aggression when we face Kobs who are formidable opponents' said Heathens Tactician Peter Magona. Nile get first away win in Super 8 Nile RFC has allot of history as it is one of the oldest clubs in Uganda and were very competitive in the late 80's and early 90's.The club folded in the late 90's but resurrected in the 21st century playing in the second division before being promoted in 2007 to the premier division to help develop rugby regionally.Former president Idi Amin is said to have played lock for Nile,other notable internationals who once played for Nile include Emmanuel Mwaka,Robert Girra and Peter Magona.Nile have found the going tough becoming the whipping boys of the Super 8 league and with a looming relegation battle after URU introduced that provision Nile have started keeping the scorelines decent and showed some intent.Perhaps the arrival of ex-Wales international forward Joe Scale is transforming them as they got a surprising and morale boosting first away win 17-19 against out of sorts hosts Toyota Buffaloes.Impis is going to find it tough to break down Nile at dam waters ground next weekend. Rhinos start brightly but fade to a resurgent Impis in a frenetic finish Rhinos have played some attractive rugby but despite starting games brightly have the tendency to fade away as games progress.This is exactly what happened after scoring an early try off a well executed line out move.Rhinos carried narrow half time lead but the university students from Impis replied with an early converted try in the second half.A penalty and another breakaway try from powerful Impis lock Romano Ogwal saw Impis leap into a 15-5 lead.Rhinos made a late surge with a try from Lenny Kikonyogo which John Musoke converted to come within 3 points at 12-15.Rhinos poor technique at the line outs was to however cost them as despite finding the territory through John Musoke's line kicking they just could not win their own line outs! Impis hung on for the win.This again was another prediction that went wrong as Rhinos failed to take home advantage. Reserve League commences In a new format introduced by URU the premier league will now have a reserve league with Super 8 teams fielding their second sides.Currently on Kobs,Heathens,Pirates and Buffaloes have second sides.Nile,Rhinos,Mongers and Impis will be encouraged to field reserved sides next season.KK Stallions won the Kyadondo derby as they crushed Buffaloes II 33-07 while Pirates II defeated defending champions Boks 31-07 Next week the biggest game in the league between traditional giants Heathens versus Kobs at Kyadondo grounds looms large while Impis travel to Nile for a tricky encounter.Nile and Impis are on a high after picking up their first wins of the season.Pirates host mongers with both teams looking to bounce back after succumbing to their first losses of the season.Toyota Buffaloes host Rhinos with both teams looking for their first wins of the season.In the Reserve league KK stallions face Boks while Pirates to host Buffaloes.The shield league has some interesting games,Lira Bulls will host Mbale Elephants in a historical first match between both regional sides.Table leaders Summerkamp also host a match of much significance when second placed Gulu Elephants travel to Kampala RUFC.This will be the first time a club side from Gulu plays a rugby match in Kampala Fanzone will as usual give you a game preview later in the week for this weekend's games. |