At a warm and brisk Kyadondo in a mid week game yesterday Wednesday 3 March 2010, the clever boys from Makerere the Hima Impis made the reigning league champions sweat. With three quarters of the game gone they tied the game at 10 points apiece having matched the Heathens physically in every aspect of the game from mauls to defense and rucks.

The game began at a high tempo but with neither side making any head way, the Heathens were guilty of casualness and a lack luster approach in attack that was brutal repulsed by the swarming Impis defence.

The deadlock was finally broken when Heathens prodigy winger Eric Kasozi took matters into his own hands from a backline move run down the right wing leaving a string of flailing Impis defenders to score just inside the 15 yard line, the resultant conversion missed by Benon Kizza. Heathens continued to press but with no real menace and were repeatedly driven back in the tackles in what must be the most physical encounter this season. A string of bad decisions including turning down a kickable penalty right infront of the posts had left the huffing and puffing Heathens looking for the first time this season like they were out of ideas. But from a resulting scrimmage at the Impis 5 yard line, a win against the head saw some good hands put winger Brian Kikawa away in the corner taking the score to 10-00. The impis responded with a penalty after prop Denis Mugambi who did not have his best game was adjudged to have come in on the side of the ruck bringing the score to 10-3 to Heathens which is the way it stayed to halftime. The second half began pretty much like the first with Heathens piling on the pressure and pinning the clever boys in their own half. A number of scoring opportunities went begging with culprits Bishop Onen, Mathias Ochwo being guilty of missing guilt edged chances credit to a determined scrambling Impis defence. A rare foray into the Heathens half and 22 by the Impis saw a near turn over opportunistically turn into a try for Impis full back Marlon, game on ice 10 points apiece. And you could tell from the crowd that these were no easy times, Malaria time for the Kyadondo fans who for the first time in a long time saw their invincibles look very ordinary and a seeming upset on the cards. Impis had in previous seasons upset Heathens at home in seemingly unlikely circumstances. For the dreamers this was the moment, but it was quickly snuffed out as Heathens responded with 2 quick fire tries. The first from some inspired kick and chase combination of Benon Kizza and Michael Wokorach with the latter catching  up and under to gallop in untouched leaving the Impis fullback visibly embarrassed. The second try soon after was from a quick ruck and sleek passing from the backs and again Kasozi was in to make the scoreline more comfortable for the Heathens fans, beer could be drank again. Benon Kizza found his boots again converting both tries for a 24-10 score line. Benon Kizza later on added a penalty and that is how the game ended with a bonus point in the bag for the Heathens, final score 27-10.

Culprit of the Match. The whole Heathens team will be disappointed with their performance, starting with the captain who in the last minute with a break on for a clear try failed to hold onto a switch pass for a knock on that really exemplified how the day had been. The experiment of returning injured Lubanga Chris at fly half failed miserably with him looking very pedestrian, but it was good to see him run again. However prop Denis Mugambi failed to hold his own and the Heathens attacking platform that is the scrum was totally neutralized and so he takes the cake.

Man of the Match. A real heads up for the Impis team for a concerted effort in defence and when they had the ball they were not afraid to run, they got in the Heathens faces and never took a step back. However for his brilliant kicking in play and finding space in seemingly none existent areas we give it to Benon Kizza, with Kasozi running him close.

Moment of the match. In the first half with all attempts to score having failed Heathens big men Robert Seguya Mark Ocwich and Scott Oluoch all took turns to bash into the Impis line and found the door firmly shut resulting in a turn over for the impis was good, a barnstorming run by Scott Oluoch in the second half had the crowd on their feet but the kick and chase form a committed Wokorach for Heathens 3^rd try has to be it for us and it broke the resistance the perfect response.

Crowd: Impressive for a midweek game, good turn out from the University supporters and well matched by the home crowd.

Conditions: Wet pitch dry and sunny day as Kampala has become of late, you are not sure where you are anymore.

Referee: Gilbert Kwaya did a good job controlling the game and handed out 2 yellow cards to either side for back chat, this is not soccer, well in Gilbert.

Visibly Missing: Heathens coach Peter Magona, I am sure many would have wanted to see that “John Terry/Bridge like handshake that wasnt” at the end of the game with Brian Power.