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 In every team sport there are always two teams that share a lot of history and have a fierce rivalry that stands the test of times.The legend becomes folklore passed on from generation to another keeping the intense rivalry very much alive.In soccer you have timeless clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona or Liverpool and Man United.This saturday Uganda's oldest and most passionate rugby rivalry comes to a head when MTN Heathens host UTL Kobs at Kyadondo grounds.This is the clash fans eagerly anticipate each passing year.Both teams remain unbeaten in the league with a game in hand.Kobs are just coming off a swash buckling defeat of Pirates a club that shook their confidence last season in a defeat that brought rivals Heathens back into the championship picture.Heathens would later clinch the league title at the death and bolt away with the rest of the season taking all silverware there was to win.Heathens are also coming off a hard fought victory over feisty Entebbe Mongers in bruising match were they were repeatedly frustrated by the visitors.Robert Seguya had to be substituted after sustaining an ankle injury while center Michael Wokorach aggravated his groin injury.Both players face a race against time to get match fit. Kobs tactician Herbert Wafula has already showed Kobs cannot be bullied at their perceived weak areas,scrum downs and line outs as they made a mockery of one of the best at such phases of play.Heathens will thus be wary of trying to control the game against Kobs through set pieces.Therefore one can fairly say both teams will be evenly matched in the battle of the forwards.The battle at the breakdown is going to be fierce and crucial. What was more interesting about Kobs was the return to top form of their famed center pairing of Dr Tonny 'Stone' Luggya and Captain Tim Mudoola.Stone in particular had a blinder of a game against Pirates,he punched holes into the Pirates line at will,assisted in one try,cover tackled like a man possessed and even incredibly could afford to drop a would be try when such an option looked impossible.Last season Heathens caught everyone's attention especially for their new found attacking style of rugby.It was feared anyone who attempted to play that style of rugby against the Kings themselves-Kobs- would be committing suicide.In a memorable end to the 2009 league Kobs and Heathens attacked each other fiercely and it was only fitting the match ended in a draw after some fantastic end to end action.One wonders what tactics will come in to play between coaches Her bert Wafula and Peter Magona but am sure many neutrals for the sake of entertainment will be hoping it is an open and running game of rugby. PREDICTION: One would have to have guts of steel to call this game which is why we are going to say either one of these sides has the chance of winning the game.It will be a closely contested match and the scores will be close but whoever scores the first try after the re-start (irrespective of the first half scores) will have the momentum and psyche to win the game. Pirates host tricky Mongers Entebbe Mongers lost to Heathens last weekend to end their winning streak but can hold their heads high as they went down fighting. Pirates and Mongers are desperate to get back to winning ways and will go all out against each other.Mongers have a solid defense and very fit athletic players but again I must reiterate for all their tenacity they lack a cutting edge in attack which has seen them fail to turn their possession into points. PREDICTION: Pirates are at home,humiliated and hungry to get back to winning ways.I give this one to Pirates by a narrow victory l or 2 penalties in a game that I have a strange premonition might be marred in the end by controversy!1000 apologies for being a prophet of doom Makerere Hima Impis versus Nile Nile are fast becoming the most indiscipline team and referees need to stop giving them too much latitude.They got their first win away in the Super 8 league and this will do wonders for their confidence.This will be a very ill tempered affair with Impis scraping through by a single try in a low scoring affair.I would recommend a senior match assessor/commissioner should supervise this game. Toyota Buffaloes versus Rhinos No contest,Rhinos win their first league game by 2 tries.Rhino's Lenny Kinonyogo will enjoy himself in this game Reserve League KK Lions versus Boks Boks win by a single score Pirates II versus Buffaloes II Big win for Pirates II,over 25 points Shield League Lira Bulls versus Mbale Elephants Tehehehe don' t know much about these teams but I fancy Lira Bulls to narrowly win at home.However watch out for former Rugby Cranes winger/scrum half pocket sized Geoffrey Okello featuring for Mbale Elephants SummerKamp versus Gulu Elephants Interesting tie but a rude welcome for Gulu Elephants traveling to Kampala.Big score,over 20 pts from SummerKamp Have a spledind weekend of rugby |