U19 Rugby Cranes make history

By Vision Reporter

The U19 rugby Cranes defied odds to make it to CAR Tier 1A after beating Madagascar 17-8 in a thrilling encounter on Saturday.

That the memorable fete came on the back of disastrous showing by their senior side under the tutelage of Peter Magona makes it even more remarkable.

The victory puts some shine to Uganda rugby that is going through some very trying times.

Just last month the rugby Cranes were humiliated by a second string Kenya A side in the Elgon Cup when they were whipped 34-0 in Nairobi.

That humiliation came hastily on the back of Uganda's lowest moment in rugby; the relegation to CAR Tier 1C in Tunisia.

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Solomon Okias beats a Madagascar player before heading for the try line. PHOTOS/Mpalanyi Sentongo

The Elgon Cup also saw the inaugural U19 competition which the Uganda lads lost to Kenya owing to nerves and inexperience; but the game lived to its billing and was in fact the only positive thing to come out of that disastrous return leg to Nairobi.

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Pius Ogena made the second try for Uganda

The lads had surprised their Kenyan counterparts in the first leg in Kampala; though the victory was turned around in the second leg, the boys gave it their all and showed a lot of promise for the future of Uganda rugby.

The junior Cranes now replace Tunisia after it was relegated to Tier 1B having fallen to Namibia in the semi finals and Zimbabwe for third place playoff.

CAR Tier 1A now has Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia.