- Nile Special Rugby Women’s League 2024 – Round Two
- Result: Black Pearls 46-22 Avengers
Emilly Lekuru and Mary Nakato inspired Black Pearls to victory over Avengers during round two of the 2024 Nile Special Rugby Women’s League at Kings Park.
Lekuru scored a hat trick of tries while Nakato bagged a brace as Black Pearls raced to a sublime 46-22 bonus point win.
It seemed, for a moment, that Avengers were on track to end their two-match losing streak. They struck early in the second minute through Christine Akello and kept the Black Pearls at bay for a further twenty minutes.
However, Black Pearls finally got the breakthrough via a well-worked move that put Lekuru over for her first try. From there on, the floodgates opened.
Lekuru scored again before setting up Nakato for her first try. That Lekuru-Nakato combination proved to be too hot for Avengers to handle. Nakato, slotting into the back line from her fullback position, hit the gaps off center Lekuru’s outside shoulder and went beyond the gain line every time.
Suzan Adong got in on the action too with her solo effort from long range.
The first half ended 24-05 with Charlotte Mudoola kicking two conversions.
After the break, Mudoola kicked a penalty to make it 27-10. Then Avengers got back to their feet and fought back.
Scrumhalf Rebecca Akello stretched over the whitewash and so did Yashifa Nakanwagi to cut the deficit to ten points.
But no sooner had they started their comeback than Nakato waltzed through the backs again to restore Black Pearls’ advantage. A few moments later, Mudoola dived in the corner to make it 39-17. Then Lekuru sealed her hat trick with a trademark finish under the uprights.
Avengers settled for a consolation try in the dying minutes of the match. Akello, who scored the match’s first try in the second minute, crushed over for her brace in the last minute. Amina Nalujja, kicking at a twenty-five per cent accuracy (from four attempts) in the match, missed the conversion.
Thus, with the bonus point in the bag, Black Pearls maintain their spot atop the standings while Avengers sunk lower onto the bottom.
Full Round Two Results:
- Black pearls 46-22 Avengers
- Ewes 15-15 She Wolves
- Panthers 10-13 Nile Rapids
