Uganda wins Plate at Kenya Safari 7s

Jun 18, 2006

THE plan was to play up there in the finals of the Main Cup of the 10th edition of Safari Sevens rugby tournament, but when they lost out in the semis, the Uganda Rugby Cranes did the next best thing, taking the Plate event (right) with a convincing 19-15 win over Western Province from South Africa.

By Kalungi Kabuye
In Nairobi


Main Cup final
E. Boks 24 Zimbabwe 22
Plate Event
Uganda 19 W. Province 14
Bowl Event
Shujaa 19 Quins 10
Shield Event
Botswana 28 Tanzania 12
Main Cup semis
Uganda 14 Kenya 24


THE plan was to play up there in the finals of the Main Cup of the 10th edition of Safari Sevens rugby tournament, but when they lost out in the semis, the Uganda Rugby Cranes did the next best thing, taking the Plate event with a convincing 19-15 win over Western Province from South Africa.

“It was not bad, we are not disappointed at all,” coach Tolbert Onyango said. “We trained for only two days, so you can imagine what the future will be like. Chester Williams helped us tremendously although, like I said, it was largely only for two days.”

Robert Seguya opened the scoring for Uganda with a try, converted by Edmond Tumusiime. The South Africans replied with two quick tries, before Mathias Ochwo added another for Uganda.

That’s the way things stood till regular time, and in sudden death, Allan Musoke did what he does best— broke for the decisive try— and Uganda had won some silverware in ten years.

Uganda, who has just acquired the services of South African Williams is preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Morocco. The North Africans overwhelmed the Rugby Cranes 36-3 in Casablanca two weeks ago.

In other events, Emerging Boks from South Africa fought a resurgent Zimbabwe side to win the Main Cup 24-22. Kenya’s second side, Shujaa, took the Bowl over Kenya Harlequins, and Botswana beat Tanzania 28-12 to win the Shield.

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