Rhino deliver shock to blow race wide open

KAMPALA.
Such was the magnitude of Rhino’s historic 6-5 victory over Nile Special Rugby Premier League leaders Protectors Heathens that Alex Kalimugogo made a bold conclusion.

“I think we can win the league,” the Uganda Rugby Union treasurer, an ex-player with Rhino, said before handing out the man of the match diadem to Martial Tchumkam.

And you couldn’t accuse him of either being lost in the moment or having a bizarre sense of humour even if the title has been largely a duopoly of Heathens and rivals Kobs. This could be the hinge.

This was their first victory over the legendary Kyadondo side missing four starters who are away in Zimbabwe with the Rugby Cranes 7s.

However, it was thoroughly deserved with the vociferous Legends Rugby Club crowd and atrocious playing conditions following a downpour playing their part on Saturday.

An indefatigable prop Tchumakam led a dominant pack to a fourth victory in five to bury last week’s loss to lowly Makerere Impis.

Two Kevin Markmot penalties, split by prop Asuman Mugerwa try for the visitors, moved them to 17 points, one behind Heathens and level with Kobs. “I have a feeling we shall regret not winning at Makerere last week,” Tchumakam said. “We underestimated them but against Heathens we came out to win.”

It’s been that kind of season where every team seems to have an equal chance.

Pirates fell 12-24 in Entebbe at the ‘House of Pain’ while champions Kobs were the biggest beneficiaries with a commanding 29-3 result against free-falling Toyota Buffaloes.

Heathens skipper Romano Ogwal had an even more telling assessment.

“The tide is changing. You can no longer come and say we shall win every game,” Ogwal reasoned.It’s only five of 14!

NILE SPECIAL RUGBY PREMIERSHIP
Rhinos 6 - 5 Heathens
Kobs 29- 3 Buffaloes
Mongers 24 - 12 Pirates

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