By Johnson Were
and David Isabirye
RUGBY LEAGUE
Premier division
Mongers 51 Buffaloes 03
Heathens 33 Rhino 05
G4S Pirates 36 Impis 0
Nile 07 Kobs 33
Shield Games
Rams 00 Summerkamp 37
Elephants 24 Bulls 17 Women league
Thunderbirds 5 Panthers 5
IT was a near moment of madness as Rugby Cranes forward Ronald Adigas ran riot scoring six tries for Mongers against Toyota Buffaloes in the Nile Special Premier Rugby league.
Another try from Andrew Olweny and Denis Mucunguzi, faultless kicking by Adrian Wasswa with four conversions, and a penalty by Kigongo Ssebalamu saw Mongers whip Buffaloes 51-3 at the soggy Entebbe turf dubbed “the House of Pain†and keeping the fisher men in title chase.
“We came for a bonus point and we got it. But we shall not rest until the so called giants feel the pain,†captain Adigas charged, in reference to the MTN Heathens, uganda telecom Kobs and G4S Pirates.
At Kampala club, Pirates sent a warning signal to rivals Kobs whom they face on Saturday when they stampeded on Hima Impis with 36-0 win.
“We still have to improve on fitness and correct some mistakes before we face Kobs. They are a good team we respect and we have to be ready to face them,†coach Andre Barnard said.
In Jinja, former champions Kobs were denied the usual century score and only settled for a 33-7 win over Nile RFC that for past three years has turned a punching bag. In Gulu, it was all jubilations as the residents witnessed their team Gulu Elephants overcome Lira Bulls 24-17.
The return of Winnie Atyang to the Thunderbirds side from a six-month suspension had little impact as they settled for a 5-5 draw with rivals Black Panthers over the weekend.
Thunderbirds lost 7-5 to the same side in the league opening game.
It was a day for the rookies as 19-year old Asher Nakityo gave Thunderbirds the lead with a try in the first half.
With five minutes to the final whistle, Panther’s 18-year old Aisha Bahhan received a beautiful pass from Emma Oroma to race to the try line and level the score 5-5.
Jinja based rugby club Nile RFC has acquired the services of former Wales international Joe Scale. The Former Wales U-21 forward player takes charge of Nile this season and is expected to build the team’s winning capacity as coach player.
The Wales international that also plays for Canadian rugby club Meraloma and coaches its U-19 team was last year voted best forwards player during the club’s awards ceremony.
Scale is expected to build the U-14 - U-18 team structures, improve on the schools development program and put up a well planned holiday programme for the U-10 to U-18 to enhance the club growth.
“It is a tough task for me but what I expect is total commitment from both the players and club management,†scale said in an interview at rugby union offices in Lugogo.
He also added that he will work together with the Union to send Jinja development manager Robert Bwali to Meraloma high performance rugby centre in Canada for a rugby development course.
He however appealed to URU and government to get sponsors so that they can offer standard facilities to athletes. “We fielded kids with no experience but we also have to improve on our scramaging and strength before the next game,†Panthers’ coach player Helen Buteme said.
Thunderbirds Christine Kizito when contacted said, “We are just lazy and we need to work out on our fitness. The girls got tired in the second half.â€
The women league continues next weekend at Kyadondo rugby club.