Black Panthers avenge Birds' defeat

By Johnson Were

Women Rugby 7s
Juniors
Whales 20 Sharks 17
Eagles 5 Whales 10

Finals 
Juniors
Sharks 15 Whales 5

Seniors
Black Panthers 19 Thunderbirds 12
 
THE Lady Rugby Cranes 7s team coach Anthony Kinene is worried the talent exhibited by young girls during the National 7s circuit tournament may be wasted if the rugby governing body (URU) doesn’t come up with a clear program on talent nurturing.
 
Kinene expressed his concern on Saturday during the national 7s final between junior sides Sharks and Whales from Entebbe that saw Sharks emerge 15-5 winners.
 
“I’m overwhelmed with the talent, but my worry is that there is nothing to celebrate unless the Union comes up with a program to tap these talents into future national players,” Kinene stated.
 
In the senior category Black Panthers avenged last weekend’s 12-5 defeat with a 19-12 win over rivals Thunderbirds.

Panthers’ team captain Charlotte Mudoola attributed their win to team work and passion for the game.

“We were more focused this time. Last time we had just started and players were rusty, the tempo of their game was slow and in that area they have improved,” Mudoola stated after the game.

true

Christine Kizito and Saloma Ilakut’s tries gave Thunderbirds a 10-5 half time lead but Panthers replied in the second half with two tries courtesy of Helen Gizamba and Charlotte Mudoola who added a try and two conversions. 

Thunderbirds’ Christine Kizito attributed the defeat to lack of team work and passion for the game as she said, “They were just quarreling and were not playing as a team.”  

In the Junior category, Entebbe Sharks defeated Whales Academy 15-5 in the final in one of the most exciting games of the weekend that saw young girls display potent rugby skills. 

A try by Juliet Nandawula and two by Faith Namugga were enough to hand Sharks victory. 

Whales coach Fortunate Irankunda attributed the defeat to the size of the pitch. 

“We are used to a small pitch and the girls got tired after the previous two games which they won,” Irankunda stated. 

Whales defeated Sharks 20-17 and Kyadondo Eagles 10-5 in the preliminary games. 

Coach Anthony Kinene will be selecting the team for the Africa championships in Morocco due March 2-8 next year.