Kenya thumps Uganda in Elgon Cup first leg

Jun 04, 2016

The Ugandans were no match for the fast and physically strong Kenyans

Elgon Cup

Uganda 10 Kenya 48

The Uganda Rugby Cranes must regroup quickly and correct their mistakes ahead of their CAR Tier A rugby fixture against Namibia after falling 48-10 to Kenya in the first leg of the Elgon Cup match at the Legends Ground.

With the Elgon Cup glory surrendered in the first leg, focus must quickly turn to the CAR Tier A fixtures where Uganda meets Namibia on July 2 at Kyadondo before travelling to Zimbabwe two weeks later to face Zimbabwe.

They will then travel to Nairobi to face the Kenyans in the return leg of the Elgon Cup which will also act as a CAR Tier A match on July 30.

On a hot Saturday, the Ugandans were no match for the fast and physically strong Kenyans who approached the game more maturely and scored a quick try through Darwin Mukidza in the opening five minutes which David Ambunya converted for a quick 7-0 lead.

The attack minded Kenyans added another try a minute later through Mike Okombe as the Ugandan defence was once again caught napping before the Ugandans replied with a try and conversion by Byron Oketayot and Kevin Makmot respectively.

enyas arwin ukidza celebrates one of his three tries hoto by ichael subuga Kenya's Darwin Mukidza celebrates one of his three tries. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

ukidza troubled the gandan defence all game hoto by ichael subuga Mukidza troubled the Ugandan defence all game. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

 

 

Cheered on by the massive home crowd the Ugandans finally turned on the heat and got two successive penalties. One was missed by Kevin Makmot and the other was converted by Phillip Wokorach in the only entertaining spell of the game for the Ugandan fans.

The Kenyans mauled to the try line with Mukidza adding another six points through a penalty and conversion from a Lyle Asiligwa try as the Ugandan defence went to sleep again, as the first half ended 29-10 in favour of Kenya.

Uganda pressed hard in the second half but could not break through Kenya's backline with their set plays and line-outs not up to scratch.

They were then made to pay for not utilizing their chances when the Kenyans broke with Nato Simiyu adding another try before Mukidza completed his hat-trick of tries after twice out pacing the entire defence.

In the end it looked very easy for the Kenyans who also used the warm up game to prepare for the bigger demands of the CAR Tier A matches.

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