Hostile Kobs maul Heathens in league

By Johnson Were

THE aggressive spirit and hard work the old guards showed on pitch, was the motivating factor behind Justin Kimono’s success in Kobs game against Heathens on Saturday.

Kimono scored a try in the 71st minute that gave Kobs a10-8 lead before Kevin Makmot added a penalty to seal a 13-11 win over Heathens in the Nile special rugby league at Kampala Rugby Club and he was crowned man of the match.

“There was a moment I thought we had lost it but I had to endure seeing old players like Wadia, Wandera and Ogwete tackling aggressively. I’m excited we won,” Kimono stated after the game.

The game that lived to its billing saw kickers Jasper Ochen (Heathens) and Makmot (Kobs) squander opportunities that restricted the first half to 8-5 in favour of Heathens.

 Ambrose Kamanyire gave Kobs the lead in second minute of the game with a try after intercepting Ochen’s kick in the 22yard. But Heathens replied in the same way in 14th minute to level 5-5 before Ochen added a penalty to seal half time.

On return, Kobs mounted pressure mauling Heathens five meters and wining several penalties before a try by Kimono to claim a 10-8 lead that was short-lived as Heathens replied with a penalty by Ochen regain a11-10 lead.

Kobs fought back and in the 77th minute Makmot scored a penalty that sealed the score to end the first round unbeaten.

Heathens’ coach Brian Tabaruka attributed the defeat to lack of discipline in the tackling areas by his players.

“The game was so tight that it could go either way even with 10 minutes to the end, but we conceded a number of penalties in the tackling areas and that is what led us to lose,” he said.

Kobs’ director of rugby Adrian Bukenya said that maturity gave his club the victory.

“Though we adjusted our game plan in second half, it was maturity of the players to handle the pressure and execute plans at difficult times,” Bukenya stated.