With a mere look at the results, one may assume Heathens were apparently on a stroll past luxury yachts and manicured gardens, but nothing came easy on Saturday at Legends Rugby Grounds.
Pirates who had just lost their first match the previous weekend against Ezee Money Rhinos, 12-05 really presented an extremely strong challenge for the Heathens who were seeking a second successive victory after thrashing Mutoni Warriors 64-03 in their first match at Kyadondo.
The entire match was played with updates from Entebbe, as arch rivals Kobs remained at the trailing end until they eventually lost to Sadolin Mongers. The heathens crowds were nervous and silent as Pirates staged the strongest defence so far among the several matches the fans have witnessed this season.
Although Heathens broke the deadlock first with a penalty, Pirates’ Anthony Kinene was quick to reply with a perfect penalty kick through the uprights to level the score.
Territory scramble talk between the fans of the different clubs in the stands had already started as the heat of game soared with the several mauls Pirates kept winning.
Brilliant Pirates fly half Ivan Magomu, who has consistently performed to expectation delivered for a Pirates lead after breaking away from a scrum, side stepping twice for an ebullient swift run to touch in the close to the left corner flag.
The crowds were left amazed with his skills as pressure got over Heathens. A controversial denial of a try due to infringement did not stop the desperate Heathens side from equalizing after the ball from a scrum in the Pirates 22 was offloaded to Micheal Wokorach who dived past the try line.
Anthony Kinene kicked through once again to aid hardworking Pirates regain the lead with the penalty in the second half at 11-08, but Lawrence Sebuliba’s late entry for Heathens changed everything.
Sebuliba came with fresh energy and spurred the team with coordination. Lawrence who was later named man of the match notched a sensational try as the evening visibly got darker at Legends. He sprinted along the left flank beating two pirates men for the 11-13 comeback.
Heathens fans immediately got on their feet in the stands, blew vuvuzelas as others slapped the metallic boards to further lift their side. Joel Kimuli eventually set fire to the rain as the outfit touched for another try.
Pirates further crumbled as Heathens scored another two tries to seal the victory. However before the last whistle, the match had to come to a standstill as fans attacked players and started fighting one another. The whole Pirates fans wing got crowded with people who had come to intervene and rescue the victims.
The fight was due to a heathens player who proceeded to run for a try in the flanks after the referee’s call for a scrum following an infringement in the center. Elsewhere Impis lost their second match against Toyota Buffaloes at Makerere Rugby grounds aka Graveyard.
FACTS
Heathens have now won both matches played and currently lead the table log.
Pirates and Impis are still on the hunt for victory after losing two home matches in a row.
Toyota Buffaloes earned their first premiership victory, recovering from a 21-17 loss at the house of pain in Entebbe.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Pirates 11-32 Heathens
Sadolin Mongers 28-15 Kobs
Ezee Money Rhinos 25-10 Mutoni Warriors
Impis 15-46 Toyota Buffaloes
