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 7th leapfrogging the Warriors who are currently at 8th 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 3rd position with 48 points and the Heathens remain 4th with 41 points. Next weekend will be a big game for the Rhinos as they play 2nd 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 2nd on the log with 54 points and Buffaloes remain 6th 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 5th 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
6. Toyota Buffaloes
7. Jinja Hippos
8. Rams
9. Warriors
10. Impis
*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.
Thank you for the details
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