It took Heathens close to an hour on Saturday for familiar face Allan Otim to ground a hard-earned try against Pirates at Legends Rugby grounds. The visitors had huffed and puffed under the sun rays on a hot turf with scoreboard reading 20-06 – both Chris Lubanga’s off the tee.
Beads of sweat easily ran down faces of men from both sides as each tussled for chances at the white chalk. Pirates game plan seemed well written with a goal of not letting any man clad in green and black shorts past their last man. Precisely, Heathens had to work so hard, for what they wanted.
Over the years, fixtures between the two clubs were revered, and this one was just like the others. Utter frustration at “school-boy” errors, scintillating runs, opponent animosity and aggressiveness dominated the show in front of a sizable crowd.
Lawrence Ssebuliba wanted to make a statement after a couple of outings hurting this particular side even during the periods of coach Sam Ahamya but cautious Conrad Wanyama was quite swift and vigilant as he foiled one of his threatening runs in the left lane.
Ronald Tusiime had set the home side rolling when he capitalized on Lubanga’s kick, blocking it to touch before Wanyama slotted through the extras but Pirates nevertheless dented their commanding lead. They got penalized for being offside just before a dramatic second half.
Ahead of this game, Heathens coach Mohammed Athiyo – who is chasing his second league title – had stated how they had “to win” and that is the mentality, the Kyadondo based ruggers returned. They dominated possession and forced their opponents back despite Wanyama adding three more a few minutes after restart.
Otim was at the forefront of the onslaught before winning Lubanga 3 more. He was fouled after a series of exchanges that left him isolated in sea of Pirates men. Haruna Mohammed moments later spoiled the scores for the Heathens faithful as he slid between the uprights for a 20-06 score.
Otim and replacement Gamma Faisal made amends both touching subsequently but the drama was yet to come. The former dived for the white chalk after double heavy metal action in a scrum within a metre, ghastly holding onto the ball like vice grips after crashing over.
Heathens try that was denied in the final minutes of intense action at Legends Rugby Grounds. Pirates walked away winners 23-16. #UgRugby pic.twitter.com/1YsmTg6t87
— Edgar Kazibwe (@Edgarkazibwe) November 27, 2017
Heathens ought to have kept it calm and clean after reaching 20-16 but Wanyama’s last kick propelled the home side with three more. A try plus a conversion would be Heathens target thereafter to salvage a draw.
Fans were kept on the edge of their seats as coach Bobby Musinguzi’s men poured men to flush the ball out of their 22. On two occasions, Alex Mubiru and Ivan Magomu confronted the assistant referees as the proceedings heated up with tempers flaring.
Heathens put several men behind the ball, Mubiru summoning his teammates for support in mauls but Pirates refused to surrender even sustaining bruises at collapse with fans calling out names. At the sound of the final whistle, Pirates wildly celebrated with sighs of relief.
It was Pirates third triumph over Heathens after recently claiming their scalp in the Uganda Cup final. The triumph was a serial indicator of tides turning after a decade of Heathens, Kobs dominance.
Saturday results
Jinja Hippos 14-71 Kobs
Warriors 07-29 Mongers
Black Pirates 23-16 Heathens
Impis 06-59 Rhinos
Rams 9-26 Buffaloes
