Thunderbirds fly past Walukuba with ease
A marabou stork refuses to leave the pitch as Thunderbirds’ Yvonne Najjuma (L) pushes to the try line under a challenge from Emily Lekuru of Walukuba Titans at Kyadondo Rugby Club on Saturday. Thunderbirds triumphed 40-3. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
Rugby. Despite the loss, many spectators were impressed with the young visitors’ performance against Thunderbirds, the oldest team in the country
KAMPALA.
A fortnight ago, Walukuba shocked Black Panthers 40-03 in their first ever Uganda Women’s Rugby Association Seniors’ League elite division match.
At the weekend, they visited Thunderbirds at Kyadondo beaming with a giant-killers’ tag. But Thunderbirds stood their ground and pulled the Jinja-based Walukuba back to earth, winning 44-05.
Captain Asha Nakityo led by example with three tries, 2015 Uspa women’s player of the year Samiya Ayikoru added two while Fortunate Irankunda, Irene Ziggie and Yvonne Najjuma each touched down once.
Rachel Kakaire’s two conversions put the icing on the cake. Walukuba coach/player Helen Koyokoyo Buteme scored her team’s only try.
Despite the loss, many spectators were impressed with the young visitors’ performance against Thunderbirds, the oldest team in the country.
Whereas the crust of Thunderbirds is built on experienced players who have played for years, and represented the nation on many occasions, the biggest number of Walukuba’s players only started playing rugby less than two years ago and the team’s average age is 18.
Fifteen-year old Emily Lekuru was chosen the Rugby.Tackling.Life young player of the match. She dazed the opposition each time she received the ball and left the largely partisan crowd cheering.
Winger Grace Auma, 20, in a number of try-saving tackles that endeared her to many.
“Honestly speaking, the scorelines can be deceptive. They gave us a good match and I am not surprised they beat Black Panthers. We didn’t win because we are more talented but because of experience. Their future is undoubtedly bright,” said Nakityo.
Former Rugby Cranes team coach Tolbert Onyango, who currently manages Toyota Buffaloes, was the chief guest.
Onyango told Daily Monitor that the emergence of upcountry teams widens the pool for national team selectors.
