Saturday, March 11
*Impis 14-24 Heathens
*Rams 20-33 Pirates
*Mongers 14- 50 Kobs
*Buffaloes 20-17 Hippos
*Rhinos 09-18 Walukuba
Rams: 20
Tries: Wandera, Ochan
Cons: Kana* 2 Pens: Kana,
Drop Goal: Kabogoza
Yellow card: Kibirige
Pirates: 33
Tries: Kamiza, Kabagambe, Josenu, Magomu
Cons: Magomu* 2 Pens: Magomu, Wanyama* 2
Pirates recovered from down against a determined Rams side that showed up and rose to the occasion in a Rugby Premier League thriller on Saturday at Graveyard in Makerere.
The Sea Robbers were tasked by their hosts to work their way up and achieve one of the greatest comebacks this season has witnessed as they put up a much deserved and hard earned 20-33 victory.
For close to ten minutes, the game saw neither of the two sides appearing on the scoreboard. Brian Wandera would then break loose, smashing his way past the Pirates’ defence-line to finally break the deadlock and score for Rams, a try that took everyone by surprise as none expected Rams to get to dot the try line first. Wandera’s try was successfully converted, granting the hosts an early lead in the game.
Ivan Magomu, ten minutes later replied with a successful penalty kick to narrow the gap between the two sides as he moved the score to 7-3 but Rams’ Benjamin Ochan wasted no time in extending Rams’ lead as he found his way to the try line awarding his side full points. His try took the score to 14-3 and the pressure was seen to be mounting on Pirates then.
From two penalty kicks, this time both taken by Conrad Wanyama, Pirates saw themselves narrow the much widened gap between them and Rams to keep their hopes of a positive result alive as they forced their score to 14-9 before going into half time.
Rams started off the second half with Emannuel Kibirige getting sin-binned in the 42nd minute. This turned out as an advantage to the visitors as they began to turn the screw and Rams failed to cope with the pressure of being 14 men against a fully numbered and well experienced side.
It was not long before the effects of the yellow card downed onto the hosts as two quick tries for Pirates by Jones Kamiza and Ivan Kabagambe would see Rams lose their established lead.
Joseph Kana slotted in a penalty kick to keep Rams hopes up at a score of 17-21 before Jeriamiah Josenu added his name to the scoresheet for the Pirates as they got their third try of the game widening the difference between them to eleven points at 17-28.
Hashim Kabogoza took his chances at a drop goal in close range and was rewarded with success from it, but Pirates’ captain Magomu did add a fourth try in the injury minutes to eliminate all hopes for the Rams when he grounded for the Sea Robbers’ to complete his team’s comeback win of 20-33, one that was indeed hard earned but well deserved.
Pirates did win but the show put up by Rams denied the Bweyogerere side a much crucial bonus point at this stage of the season, one they most definitely had in mind coming into the game.
Squads
Rams: Ochan Fred, Jude Rwakayanga, Hosea Nkote, Reagan Mungu, Uthman Mukasa, Joel Wadidi, Brian Wndera, Jude Kakala, Micheal Kalyango, Hashim Kabogoza, Kenneth Obito, Emmanuel Kibirige, Joseph Kana(C), Kenneth Okong, Ryan Juuko
Replacements: Daniel Lubangakene, Nicholas Bukenya, Solomon Aryampa, Marvin Mugabe, Julius Tumuhairwe, Collin Isabirye, Shakur Ssaka
Pirates: Ivan Kabagambe, Alex Ssebagala, Alema Ruhweza, Umar Duff, Daniel Nshiyimana, Musa Muwonge, Moses Aziz, Sydney Gongodyo, Moses Olupot, Ivan Magomu(C), Timothy Odongo, Jeremiah Josenu, Jones Kamiza, Solomon Banaawa, Conrad Wanyama
Replacements: Nathan Bwambale, Martin Karugonjo. Alvin Rukundo, Humphrey Tashobya, Douglas Komakech, Patrick Matovu, Isaac Maasa, Paul Bagota, Arnold Atukunda.
