Ezee Money Rhinos huffed and puffed until the final minutes of Saturday’s Nile Special Uganda Rugby Premiership showdown against 14-man Pirates to secure a crucial draw thanks to David Semwami’s try at Legends Rugby Grounds.
Pirates David Otwi converted the home side’s opening try and later kicked through a penalty to keep visitors, Ezee Money Rhinos at the dire end in the first half.
And despite the involvement of coach John Musoke, Rhinos put up a lackluster first half performance, Pirates piling pressure on the side that looked exhausted.
Second got lit up by Kevin Makmot’s Penalty for Rhinos, closing down the gap in the scores, following an infringement in the ruck.
A few minutes later, infringement and handling by Andrew Oduka cost Rhinos a penalty before responding with a try converted by Kevin Makmot.
The heat of the match had two pirates players in sin bin for fouls and a red card surfaced later on for fly half Haruna Muhammed as the side started languishing with a reduced number.
Pirates dramatically furthered their lead with a penalty through Canowira immediately after Kevin Makmot’s penalty for the visitors but the side could not hold on to their 18-13 lead at the death of the encounter.
Pirates coach player Anthony Kinene who was earlier named on the starting line up got in and a strange step on foul in the scrum is what sidelined him with a yellow leaving his side in a battle to contain attacking Rhinos.
Musoke remained the man to credit having organized Rhinos as the side executed brillance with agility and pace, passing across the field until full back David Semwami got hold the ball to excitingly dive over for the historic match drawing try.
Kevin Makmot kicked the conversion slightly wide to deny Rhinos the last minute win settling for an 18-18 draw, the second of this season that follows Heathens-Mongers 10-10 stalemate.
Saturday Results
| Impis | 06-32 | Kobs |
| Toyota Buffaloes | 17-13 | Sadolin Mongers |
| Mutoni Warriors | 21-52 | Heathens |
| Pirates | 18-18 | Ezee Money Rhinos |
FACTS
- Rhinos have not won in their last three matches they have played since beating Heathens 06-05 in week 5.
- Pirates lost to Rhinos 12-05 in the first weekend of this season but their second encounter resulted an 18-18 stalemate.
- Pirates have lost at home only once and that was their 11-32 loss to Heathens in week 2.
