Nile Special Rugby (Men) Championship – Quarterfinal Round One:
Result: Mongers 13-17 KOBs
During round nine of the regular season of the Nile Special Rugby Championship, KOBs were hosted by Mongers in Entebbe and left with a 21-16 victory. They did it the hard way after being on the backfoot numerous times in the match that went down to the last minute.
As fate would have it, the two teams were paired for the Championship Playoffs quarterfinals. On Saturday afternoon, Mongers hosted the first round. The result was in favour of the visitors again as KOBs won by 17-13 points.
As it happened during the regular season, KOBs, somehow, left Entebbe with the victory again. The hard way too.
KOBs were quick to strike in the first half. Trevor Maina scored their only try four minutes after kickoff. Josiah Ssempeke missed the conversion but slotted three penalties for KOBs to lead by 14-03 at the break.
Odrua kicked Mongers’ only points in the half. But he missed three penalty attempts on his way to a shocking thirty-three per cent kicking accuracy (from six total) that kept Mongers behind on the scoreboard.
Mongers dominated the second half. Their try, scored by Ebber Aturinde, was the only touchdown in the final forty minutes. Odrua converted it easily in front of the uprights but he did not get as many opportunities to kick as in the first half. He added only one penalty to Mongers’ tally.
Similarly, KOBs missed two penalties through Calvin Gizamba and Rasul Abiriga that could have ended Mongers’ hopes to win. Despite enjoying possession and territory, the hosts were unable to orchestrate a comeback and eventually fell, 17-13, at full-time.
Results from the first round of the Championship Playoffs Quarterfinals
Only one of the three other quarterfinals – Rhinos vs Pirates at Legends – followed this script, perhaps even harder. In the regular season, Pirates battled to a 17-11 victory over Rhinos at the same venue. The trenches were deeper in the first round of the quarterfinal but Pirates still won the duel by a slim 10-07 margin.
The two top seeds, Heathens and Hippos, had smoother quarterfinals. Both commandingly won at home against Walukuba and Buffaloes respectively. Heathens beat Walukuba by 25-00 and Hippos beat Buffaloes by 40-21.
The second round of the Championship Playoffs quarterfinals will be played on Saturday, May 4.
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