Normal service resumed in the Rugby Premiership

The curtain came down on the first round of this season’s Rugby Premiership yesterday with the glamour tie seeing Hima Cement Heathens put its undefeated record on the line against Dusupay Warriors. After escaping all the attention pre-season bar the odd whisper, Warriors had people sitting up and taking notice after they scaled the highs inside the opening six game weeks.

Winning is not a trait usually associated with Warriors who were as recent as last season involved in a relegation scrape. The temptation to attribute the club’s change of fortunes to new coach Ivan Makmot is overwhelming. He might not have drawn success as a player like moths to the flame, but the former halfback’s has demonstrated all that is right during his brief time in the dugout.

The thick skin and relative indifference to criticism Makmot has brought to his coaching appears to be rubbing off his players. After having things go swimmingly for them before the festive break, Warriors came unstuck against defending champions Black Pirates three Saturdays ago. The wheels were supposed to go off, and maybe they did in that dramatic 28-3 loss against Betway Kobs. There was nevertheless a fight in Warriors players that would have both pleased and worried Makmot.

Kobs lost inarguably the player of the first round during their grudge match with Warriors. Pius Ogena fractured an ankle as he sliced and diced Warriors’ defence in a brilliant passage of play that yielded Kobs’ first try. But such is the strength in depth at Kobs that they probably won’t miss Ogena as much as the Rugby Cranes or Uganda Sevens will. Robert Aziku has dominated the loose as his forwards coach would have loved him to. It’s also refreshing to see youngsters like Josiah Ssempeke, Jude Juuko and Conrad Mukwaya being slow tracked into Uganda’s oldest club. Ssempeke’s jostle with James Ijongat for the No.10 jersey will particularly be one to keep an eye on in the second round.
After failing to place in the top two for the first time in as long as one can remember, it looks like it will be a case of normal service resumed for both Kobs and Heathens at the end of this season.

Heathens heads into the second round with a physiological advantage after Michael Wokorach’s late try helped them seal a come-from-behind win against Kobs in the first round. But after enjoying something of a renaissance at the tail-end of the first round, holders Pirates still fancy their chances. In truth, though, Bobby Musinguzi’s charges will probably play the role of king maker with their matches against Kobs at Legends and Heathens at Kyadondo set to be pivotal.