The 2017/8 Nile Rugby Premiership: Week 13 Round up

If there was ever a weekend to watch Rugby, this past weekend was definitely one not to miss out on. Shocker after shocker, the 2017-2018 Premiership lived up to what we already knew it to be, the most entertaining, competitive and shocking season in a long time. The big weekend came and went with celebrations and tears in equal measure. 

Hippos Shock Warriors; Never underestimate the power of the underdog.               

The Hippos attacked the Warriors mercilessly at Legends and managed to get a very popular win and a bonus point to boot. Not many teams can currently beat Warriors 30 points to 10 at their base and that is exactly what the rookies did. They even upset our earlier prediction of a warriors’ “sure win”. This game could easily have been the biggest shock at Legends this weekend. No one saw this upset coming. Jinja had just faced KOBS two days before, no one could have expected them to have enough gas left in the tank to upset the Warriors at home and earn a bonus point while at it. Congratulations to the Jinja Hippos. The Hippos move up to 7^th leapfrogging the Warriors who are currently at 8^th position.*

Heathens Halts a Rhino Charge.

As if Legends was jinxed on week 13 (that number again), Hima Cement Heathens turned up and took the Rhinos side to school. The hosts’ lost 15 -23 and the visitors had the game pretty much wrapped up early in the second half with Rhinos still scoreless. The Rhinos loss was painful and probably ends the Club’s maiden Premiership trophy. Emphasis on the word, "Probably". This season has proved to be extremely unpredictable we can't count Rhinos out of the title race yet.

The Rhinos first half performance was completely different from the last game when they humbled Mongers in Entebbe. The players took complete charge in the opening 10 minutes and missed two ‘certain’ opportunities to score tries and to add salt to the wound, a skewed Penalty from the sure boot of Kevin Makmot. Talk about a jinxed week for the Rhinos. Once the Heathens were allowed to settle in the game they didn’t hesitate to put points on the board via Lawrence Ssebuliba’s brace.

The Heathens defensive play was to be commended since they managed to repel several attacks from the Rhinos in the latter’s attempt to grasp a win at all costs. The biggest problem the Rhinos had on the day was at the Line outs. By the end of the first half they had lost a total of 6 of their throws and that is inexcusable at this level especially with eyes on winning the title. East and Central Africa’s best Line out jumper Mathias Ochwo did not play after sustaining a toe injury from the previous weekend at the “House of Pain”.

Rhinos remain at 3^rd position with 48 points and the Heathens remain 4^th with 41 points. Next weekend will be a big game for the Rhinos as they play 2^nd placed KOBS at Legends. This week was tough for them and they will need to definitely regroup as they gear up to face one of their biggest rivals, KOBS. It will be all or nothing in this game. If Rhinos still wants a shot at this title, they will have to bring their all against the KOBS. 

KOBS Pile Up Crucial Points

The KOBS won 19-12 against Buffaloes at the Kyadondo grounds. This fixture was always going to be very slippery to either team and Buffaloes didn’t go down without a decent fight and hence got a losing bonus point. The Buffaloes are going through a tough phase of the competition. No club wishes to face off against Heathens, KOBS, Pirates and Rhinos in 4 consecutive weekends. But this team stood up and faced the challenge pretty decently.

The highlight of this game was the return of Rugby Cranes Captain Brian Odongo. The return of Captain Fantastic couldn't have come at a better time. KOBS was at a time when it needed true leadership and as always Captain Fantastic came to the rescue. With his usual command on the field, the team came together for this game and snatched a victory from Buffaloes in what was a pretty close game. Brian managed about 55 minutes in total on the field and his club coach Ronnie Lutakome hopes to see him playing longer as they the Premiership comes to an interesting last bend. With Brian back on the field we hope this is a sign that Ex KOBS Captain Oscar Kalyango will be back on the field soon too. KOBS remain 2^nd on the log with 54 points and Buffaloes remain 6^th with 32 points.

Graveyard derby

The Rams won this relegation slug-fest between the 2 bottom placed sides before the game. The 18-13 scoreline is what many neutral expected. Rams had one try from Costa and another from Trevor as well as one conversion and 3 penalties from Nelly. Impis had a penalty try from Daniel Ortega, then 3 penalties from Henry Nsekuye. The game could have gone either way. The result has left the Impis starring closely to relegation from the Premiership. 

“House of Pain”?

The Mongers run to an early lead in the first half leading 10-07 at the “House of pain” after 40 minutes. The game was prematurely ended by referee Charles Mungoma after some crowd trouble and an alleged attack on a match official with the “Sea robbers” winning with a total of 45 points against the hosts’ 10 points.

The Pirates did what no other team has managed in a long time-get a bonus point in Entebbe- and therefore helped to solidify their position at the helm with now 56 points. Mongers are still in the 5^th position with 37 points.

We should strongly condemn the insults (verbal and physical) directed to all our match officials. Intimidation of the Match Officials is rather primitive and clearly for other sports and not rugby. We hope to hear more from the league management committee or the Uganda Rugby Union on this matter.

The Current Log*

1.       Pirates                                                  56 points

2.       Betway KOBS                                       54 points

3.       Shell Rimula Rhinos                           48 points

4.       Hima Cement Heathens                    41 points

5.       Entebbe Mongers                               37 points

6.       Toyota Buffaloes                                 32 points

7.       Jinja Hippos                                         14 points

8.       Rams                                                     10 points

9.       Warriors                                               09 points

10.    Impis                                                    07 points

*NB: The compilation of the points is personal and not the URU’s official log which will be released soon.

This was the weekend of Super Rugby. It was the weekend to show up and make the play that could have changed the trajectory of each team's season campaign. Pirates, KOBS, Heathens and Jinja took advantage of the Week 13 madness and made some astonishing plays that definitely had all the entire Rugby Fraternity in shock.

 Non one could have predicted the way this season is unfolding. So many surprises no one can predict the winner of this season. After this weekend, "Anything can happen,"  should be the new season slogan because if there is anything we have learned from this week, it is that no one safe. 

WHAT A GREAT WEEK 13! JUST WHAT WE ALL NEEDED.

The 2017/18 Nile Rugby Premiership; A review of Week 13

Herbert Wafula

After the mid week clash between Betway KOBS and the Hippos the log now looks neater with all teams having so far played 12 games apiece. This was the earlier match which was postponed due to the Hippos failure to travel to Legends. The KOBS won 45 to 14 points and managed to leapfrog Rhinos into 2^nd position.

Week 13 is one of my favorite weeks in this campaign with almost all games having a fair sense of balance and honestly results can go either way in each of the 5 games being played out at 4 different venues today. Number 13 is regarded as bad omen for many but trust me this will be the farthest thing all the players assembled to do their duty among all the 10 clubs.

Team Plascon Mongers

My top of the clash encounter has the 5^th placed Entebbe Mongers hosting the log leaders Pirates. This clash in the first leg was controversially awarded to the Mongers in a boardroom decision. That game marks the Pirates only loss so far. The Mongers will be out to prove a point and being at home they are never an easy team. The Pirates version of very wide plays will be greatly tested in the narrower Mongers pitch. For the chasing pack-KOBS and Rhinos-they will be hoping for a Mongers win.

At Kyadondo Rugby Club, the Toyota Buffaloes will host the Betway KOBS. The Buffaloes having been buoyed with a double victory over their elders’ Heathens will want to cause an upset in this one too. The KOBS lying in 2^nd position with 51 points will step on the pitch knowing they cannot afford any slip. Buffaloes are currently in 6^th position with 31 points. The query here is if KOBS will be well rested after the Wednesday game against Hippos.

KOBS vs. Buffaloes

The Shell Rimula Rhinos will host the defending Champions Hima Cement Heathens at Legends Rugby Club. Rhinos are currently in 3^rd position with 48 points and 4^th placed Heathens with 37 points. The Rhinos won the first leg clash at Kyadondo. The Heathens are undergoing a rebuilding phase and will need to pull some magical trick to upset the Rhinos who are also still in the title chase. The Heathens will be seeking to stem their dramatic drop from the helm.

Hima Heathens vs. Rhinoes (Cox Muhirwa and Asumen Mugerwa)

The Warriors host the Hippos at Legends at 14:30 hours. Both teams are tied with 9 points and if I was the betting type; probably this is the match I would most confidently state that there is a clear winner in Warriors. Two road trips in a week for the hippos might prove a bit too much for the Premiership rookies.

At the Makerere grounds’ graveyard the Rams are hosting the Impis. Both teams are tied with 6 points each. The slugfest in the relegation zone is equally not for the faint hearted and honestly this game can go either way. This derby will be very interesting since both teams use the same pitch for training and know each other too well.

May the most deserving teams win their clashes and may fans turn up in big numbers and support their favorite teams. 

The 2017/18 Nile Rugby Premiership; Season Review

By Herbert Wafula.

This particular season promised to be the most entertaining so far and it has truly lived to my expectations thus far amidst some shocking results. We have never witnessed this kind of competitiveness among the top teams.

 Mr. Daniel Kaggwa, The Legends Bar and Restaurant proprietor and a former Rhinos player told me at the beginning of the Premiership that the top 3 teams will all come from Legends. Seeing the Hima Cement Heathens-the defending champions-collapse last weekend to Buffaloes for the second time this year has almost confirmed his words. A few weeks ago it looked like a 4 horse race but currently that has been reduced to three.

 Heathens’ Dynasty Crumbled

Heathens have so far lost 5 games in total against Buffaloes (twice), Pirates (twice) and once to Rhinos. They have 2 other tough fixtures at Legends against the Rimula Rhinos this coming Saturday and later against their biggest known rival, Betway KOBS. This has been so far the worst title defense and there are yet a handful of games remaining.

Hima Cement Heathens

They are certainly going through a tough rebuilding phase. I watched their Friday failed attempt to get one past their ‘little brothers’, the Buffaloes but despite their best effort they were found wanting in many aspects even in the set pieces. Buffaloes ensured that Heathens got scrappy balls from the Scrums and Line outs.

In all truth any team which can lose two of their biggest guns in the model of Asuman Mugerwa and Phillip Wokorach will have to struggle greatly to remain competitive.

Betway KOBS

The KOBS played their postponed match against the Hippos on Wednesday at Namilyango College and it was good game that saw Betway KOBS come out on top 45 - 14. We hoped to see former Captain Oscar Kalyango in this fixture but I guess we will have to wait just a little longer for the influential Ex Captain to return.

The Betway KOBS have struggled this year and the fact that that they led for most of the first leg is more to do with attitude and not with having better skills. The team also lost Joseph Aredo to Kenya Harlequins and Uganda Cranes Captain Brian Odongo to a nasty knee injury. This might be a great time for Oscar to return onto the field. 

The Pirates

To many neutral observers the Premiership seems headed to a new home and the clash between the Pirates and Rhinos might be the cherry on the cake this season. The Pirates are yet to lose any game on their pitch this season. The only loss was a board room decision which has not gone down well with many observers-more especially after the KOBS were allowed a rematch against Jinja Hippos.

Pirates vs. Buffaloes 

The Pirates side boasts of the best back row and half back combo in the competition in Isaac Rujumba, Musa Muwonge and Desire Ayera. The work rate of this trio is awesome. The long tested combo of Conrad Wanyama and Ivan Magomu has done enough damage to other team’s fortunes that no team complained of poor officiating while losing to them.

Shell Rimula Rhinos

The biggest and ‘baddest’ forwards are chilling at the Rhinos base and it will be interesting to see how far they have improved since the 1^st part of the league when they ‘miraculously’ lost to Pirates and KOBS.

Seeing them going about the resurgence in the 2^nd half against the Mongers at the house of pain was a scene you see once in a while and that probably that has been their best game so far.

The 2017/18 Nile Premiership champion will for surely be decided at Legends Bar and Restaurant this season. Any loss to the top 4 teams will be catastrophic in the team’s top honors this season. May the most deserving team win it with great aplomb .

Timothy Kisiga Player of the month January 2018

With what is now looking like a  Black Pirates dominated season, Rugby 256 player of the month for January is Timothy Kisiga, a very instrumental member of this nuanced team of the Black Pirates. Black Pirates have been known to be the team that feels like home, for a lot of players and it is not any different for Timothy Kisiga. 

Timothy had a pretty strong foundation in the sport of rugby with a solid school rugby career to back this up. However his professional career in the league is definitely a testament to the growth and developmental curve he has fostered at his time at Black Pirates.

The very mundane but rare quality that Timothy possesses, is he honestly enjoys playing Rugby. He might have exceptional rugby skills but he never forgets to enjoy himself on the field and that to a great extent contributes to his success on the field. 

Just like Phillip Wokorach brings his own style to the position of full back, Timothy brings his own unique taste and elegance to full back.  

What changed for you in terms of Rugby that made the difference in the way you play?
Definitely the gym, I have been on a strength and conditioning program that has helped me avoid contact injuries

What would you consider your best game this season so far?
The game against Buffaloes, first time I scored more than two tries in a game

What should we expect from you going forward?
I hope to consolidate my good performances and achieve consistency

Anything for the fans?
Hope they continue watching and appreciating good rugby

How tries do u have?
I have 9 tries so far this season

Best try so far?
This season, it was against Buffaloes


Congratulations to Timothy Kisiga. Your exceptional displays, dominance and influence on the field and in the sport of Rugby as a whole is the reason we at Rugby 256 chose you as our Player of the Month of January. We look forward to watching more and more of you on the field as you continue to make history playing the game you love and are very passionate about.
When it comes down to it, those that love and are passionate about the sport, are those who live to have long and fulfilled careers in Rugby. This can clearly be seen in Timothy and for us, this current season is a scratch on the surface of what he can offer as a player.

Thank you to Velocity for partnering with us, Rugby 256 on Player of the month. Everyone should check out Velocity located in Kyanja right after the Kensington Apartments. They have beautiful gardens, a bar and grill as well as a car wash and service point. 

Like their Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/velocitykyanja/