- Senegal 16-17 Uganda
The Rugby Cranes brightened their chances of challenging for this year’s Africa Gold Cup with a hard fought 17-16 win over Senegal in Dakar on Saturday.
John Duncan’s charges set out with a clear motive of explosively breaking the Senegalese backline with their lightning quick backs.
The home side, on the other hand preferred to retain the ball and use their heavier pack to pound past their lighter opponents.
The home side got the first points on the board from a penalty after Uganda were punished for infringement in the scrummage.
Philip Wokorach then responded with Uganda’s penalty to level matters early in the game with Uganda’s quick style of play forcing their hosts into errors inside their half.
A good line break by the visitors ended with lock Charles Uhuru crossing the white chalk. Wokorach, who didn’t have the best of games and was later substituted, added the extras for Uganda to lead 10-3.
Scrummaging continued to trouble Uganda and they were punished for Senegal’s second penalty which dissected the posts to cut the deficit to 4 points (6-10).
Essai Moussa cut through the Ugandan back line to score Senegal’s first try of the game. It was converted for the home side to regain the lead (13-10).
Uganda kept running at Senegal and it wasn’t long before Michael Wokorach set up winger James Odong for a touchdown in the corner. Philip Wokrach converted for Uganda to go into the halftime break leading 17-13.
Uganda’s offence was blunt in the second half and, even with Senegal reduced to 14 men early in the second period, Uganda didn’t capitalize.
The home side kept knocking on the door and were awarded a penalty which was converted to bring the score to 16-17.
The 2007 champions held on for the win on the road, their first of the campaign having drawn 33-all with Kenya in Nairobi last weekend.
The win sends Uganda to the summit of the log with six points, leapfrogging Zibabwe who are yet to play their second game.
Uganda is now left with three games which will all be played on home soil in Kampala. Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tunisia will all make trips to Kampala.