Uganda falls short after penalty miss
Aug 31, 2009
With only one minute remaining on the clock, Rugby Cranes chose to go for a penalty other than a scrum-down on Saturday. Joel Anguyo blasted it off course and blew Uganda’s only chance to get hold of the Elgon Cup.
By Johnson Were
Uganda18(40) Kenya 13(43)
Women
Uganda 12 (17) Kenya 5(43)
With only one minute remaining on the clock, Rugby Cranes chose to go for a penalty other than a scrum-down on Saturday. Joel Anguyo blasted it off course and blew Uganda’s only chance to get hold of the Elgon Cup.
After an argument among the players whether to go for a line out, a scrum-down or penalty, captain Moses Soita insisted on a kick that would have tied the scores over the two legs.
A successful try from a scrum down would have clearely handed Uganda Elgon trophy with a 23-13 victory for a 45-43 aggregate for Uganda .
“It was not supposed to be a one man show as our captain took it. We should have taken a decision as a team,†said leading player Robert Seguya.
Even Kenyan coach Mike Otieno thought the Ugandan captain had shot himself in the foot. “Technically I would go for a scrum down and eye a try to avoid other technicalities,†Otieno suggested.
“My team were exhausted after defending 13 points for over 50 minutes and I think they were bound to break down.â€
Kenya rugby union chairman Richard Omwella summed their joy by saying, “We survived these young men. God must be Kenyan.â€
Uganda that entered the second half trailing by 10 points with the score at 3-13 mounted pressure on Kenya after recess and got a 18-13 victory.
IRB Sevens leading try scorer Collins Injera put Kenya ahead with two quick tries in the 16th and 29th minute while Biko Adema managed a penalty to seal their 13points.
Scot Olouch, Robert Seguya, scored tries while Joel Anguyo managed one penalty and conversion, and Chris Lubanga another penalty for Uganda.
Interestingly, match commissar Andrew Owinyi later said no decision had been reached how to pick a winner, had the game ended in a draw over two legs.
Uganda18(40) Kenya 13(43)
Women
Uganda 12 (17) Kenya 5(43)
With only one minute remaining on the clock, Rugby Cranes chose to go for a penalty other than a scrum-down on Saturday. Joel Anguyo blasted it off course and blew Uganda’s only chance to get hold of the Elgon Cup.
After an argument among the players whether to go for a line out, a scrum-down or penalty, captain Moses Soita insisted on a kick that would have tied the scores over the two legs.
A successful try from a scrum down would have clearely handed Uganda Elgon trophy with a 23-13 victory for a 45-43 aggregate for Uganda .
“It was not supposed to be a one man show as our captain took it. We should have taken a decision as a team,†said leading player Robert Seguya.
Even Kenyan coach Mike Otieno thought the Ugandan captain had shot himself in the foot. “Technically I would go for a scrum down and eye a try to avoid other technicalities,†Otieno suggested.
“My team were exhausted after defending 13 points for over 50 minutes and I think they were bound to break down.â€
Kenya rugby union chairman Richard Omwella summed their joy by saying, “We survived these young men. God must be Kenyan.â€
Uganda that entered the second half trailing by 10 points with the score at 3-13 mounted pressure on Kenya after recess and got a 18-13 victory.
IRB Sevens leading try scorer Collins Injera put Kenya ahead with two quick tries in the 16th and 29th minute while Biko Adema managed a penalty to seal their 13points.
Scot Olouch, Robert Seguya, scored tries while Joel Anguyo managed one penalty and conversion, and Chris Lubanga another penalty for Uganda.
Interestingly, match commissar Andrew Owinyi later said no decision had been reached how to pick a winner, had the game ended in a draw over two legs.