Weekend Results
Sadolin Mongers 37-21 XFM Impis
Rhinos 10-05 Mutoni Summerkamp
Sadolin Mongers masterminded a remarkable come back to beat Makerere University XFM Impis in the Nile Special Super 8 Rugby league fixture played over the weekend at the dreaded House of Pain Stadium in lake side town of Manyago, Entebbe.
Trailing by a massive 21 points in the first half hour courtesy of Augustine Kasansula and a double of Costa Ngobi’s tries in quick succession that were all perfectly converted by Stallon Arineitwa, the Entebbe based hosts looked a complete shadow of the team that has gained a giant killing tag in Ugandan Rugby.
In fact, the visitors would have doubled the lead had they capitalized on Monger’s poor ball handling and a few defense lapses. Keith Sseruyange and Skipper Adinan Mutebi came close to getting further tries but missed narrowly.
By the close of the first half, the home team was now applying the principal of damage limitation as two Adrian Wasswa’s well taken penalties from close range coated the score line with some colour as the half time ended 6-21.
Mongers returned in the second half a better side full of aggression and life. A terrible ankle injury to Impis’ hooker, Michael Okot was a blessing in disguise for the home side.
2012 Rugby Union Most Valuable Player, Andrew Olwenyi got a flying try that left footed kicker, Adrian Wasswa converted from an acute angle to make the score line 13-21 in the 50th Minute. Hannington Mukalazi’s try and Wasswa’s conversion made it 20-21 before John Wandicho made it 25-21 a few moments later.
With 15 minutes to the end of this scintillating fixture, Herbert Kato broke through the pack for a rare try- his first of the season. However, twin brother, Wasswa missed the resultant conversion.
Man of the match, Erukana Jackson Wako sprinted from half way the center line through a tired pack of Impis’ players to score a wonder try, much to the applause of the jovial cheering crowd. This time round, Kicker Wasswa made no mistake from 5 metres to cap the icing on Monger’s memorable “winning cake”, that comes forth with a 5th place finish in the National league.
“It was down to team attitude, the boys resurrected in the second half. But Rugby is a game of 80 minutes not the first half only”, Mongers’ captain, Richard Bbira remarked of his team’s great display in the second half during the post match interview.
His opposite number at Impis, Adnan Mutebi conceded defeat and urged his troops to look towards the upcoming Uganda Cup. “This is indeed the house of pain, they made life difficuit for us in the second half and got a great come back but we shall rise again”, Mutebi said.
Meanwhile, at the Legends club, Rhinos beat Summerkamp 10-5 in a low scoring encounter to finish 7th and condemn Mutoni Construction sponsored Summerkamp to relegation play off with a yet to be named team.
Else where, Kathryn Condon became yet another fan to win a dream ticket for the Elgon Cup in Nairobi come July.
