Buffaloes qualify for first final after commanding victory over Impis

Nile Special Rugby Premiership

Semi final second leg
Buffaloes 28 Impis 12(Buffaloes win the tie 28-23 on aggregate)

Saturday 
Heathens v Pirates

The Toyota Buffaloes qualified for their first Nile Special Rugby Premiership final after a commanding 28–12 victory over the Makerere Impis at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds on Friday evening.

This was the second match of a two-legged semi-final play-off, and the Buffaloes produced a far more complete performance than the visitors.

The Buffaloes opened the scoring through Yasin Wasswa’s early try, before Robert Ssentongo brought the Impis back into the contest to level matters at 7–7.

The Buffaloes continued to put the Impis under pressure and were rewarded with another try through Hector Twinomugisha. Wasswa added the conversion to extend the Buffaloes’ lead to 14–7.

The visitors emerged for the second half with greater intent as they looked to overturn the deficit. They scored an early second-half try through Lincoln Mushate to cut the lead to 14–12.

Aware that their aggregate advantage was still vulnerable, the Buffaloes raised their intensity, frustrating the Impis while also extending their lead through Meddie Abdallah’s try.

Wasswa remained immaculate with the boot as the Buffaloes continued to build on their advantage.

Daniel Otim then joined the scoresheet with the club’s fourth try as they stretched their lead to 28–12.

The Impis continued their valiant fight until the final whistle but were given little room to operate by the Buffaloes’ disciplined and precise defence.

“The counter-attacking opportunities that we had were very good, and in the end we showed that our defence was very good,” said Buffaloes coach Charles Onen.

He stated that his side’s progression to the final was largely down to the foundations laid at the start of the season.

The Buffaloes now await the winner of the tie involving the Platinum Credit Heathens, whose semi-final was postponed following the untimely death of Sydney Gongodyo the previous week.

The rescheduled first leg will take place at Kyadondo on Saturday, with both teams eager to secure an advantage heading into the return fixture and keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.