Kobs give Pirates blues at Kings Park

KAMPALA. In the first derby at their new home, Kings Park Stadium, Bweyogerere, Pirates were beaten 13-15 by Betway Kobs to hand them a second loss in the Nile Special Premiership on Saturday.

Coming into the game separated by a three point margin, both sides had winning on the agenda and the early exchanges said it all. Kobs was placed third with 21 points with Pirates fourth on 18, forcing both sides to go all out.

Whenever Pirates piled pressure, it rarely matured into anything while Kobs used and protected the ball well enough to keep the scoreboard ticking. Pirates looked awful at the breakdown and their lineout was a mess, making it hard to get grip on the game.

With the game at 13-15 in Kobs favour, Pirates looked to be going it before giving away a penalty and later losing possession in their five to concede another avoidable try.
“We gave away a lot of possession, our rucking was poor just like the lineout and we got punished,” Pirates captain Ivan Magomu told Daily Monitor. “We were always in their faces in their half but we never came back with points. Going forward we have to improve in the coming games,” he added.

Ronald Musajja, Joseph Aredo and Robert Aziku got Kobs` tries while Haruna Mohammed and Pius Mwanje scored for Pirates in a game of two halves. Kobs coach Fred Mudoola credited the win to a team effort led by captain Brian Asaba who emerged man of the match for being a nuisance at the breakdown at the same time tackling whatever crossed his sight. “Teamwork won us the game. It’s a big win for us because if we lost the n we only make life hard for ourselves,” said Mudoola.

At legends, Dusupay Warriors came from behind to beat Buffaloes 23-9 and maintain second spot behind Heathens who won 33-3 in Walikuba. Heathens will enjoy Christmas atop as the league resumes on January 5.