- Result: Kenya 32-24 Uganda
Uganda’s Rugby Cranes will again fight for fifth place in the Africa Cup after falling to Kenya Simbas in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The tournament hosts suffered a 32-24 loss to the Simbas at the Mandela National Stadium annexe pitch in what was a lacklustre show from pack replacements and skipper Byron Oketayot.
The Rugby Cranes soaked up the early pressure from the Simbas in the opening five minutes with a solid defensive shift before superb Aaron Ofoywoth’s exit kick gave the hosts some breathing space that allowed them to attack.
In the first real attack from the hosts, Pius Ogena, with Philip Wokorach and Claude Otema on the outside, opted to carry rather than pass, and a clear try-scoring opportunity went begging. A few moments later, the Ugandans, playing under advantage, had star back Wokorach calling for the tee but the time for taking the penalty elapsed and the Kenyans escaped with a scrum.
Uganda’s attack in the opening quarter of the game was marred by handling errors and illegal arrival at the breakdowns from Oketayot and it was not long before Kenya took the lead.
An exit kick from Adrian Kasito was fielded by flyhalf Barry Young who went expansive to the left through Bethuel Anami, Jone Kubu, and Griffin Chao who rounded Otema and eluded Ofoyrowth’s crossover tackle to score the game-opening try for Kenya.
Fourteen minutes later, the Kenyans were celebrating again. Walter Okoth broke the line into Uganda’s 22 and the Simbas put together a couple of phases before going to Kubu who drew in a couple of defenders before passing to Barry Young to run in Kenya’s second try under the posts.
Quick thinking from Ofoyrwoth saw Uganda cut the deficit just before halftime as he quick-tapped and ran through to ground with Wokorach adding the extras.
Barry was set up for a drop goal as Kenya extended the lead.
The introduction of Timothy Kisiga for Otema brought life to the left-wing attack for Uganda. The utility back gained the Cranes meters with his first attack and a penalty was earned from the phases that followed as Wokorach cut the deficit to 5.
The wheels fell off for Uganda with the introduction of Blair Ayebazibwe and Saul Kivumbi in the front row with a defensive scrum to come. The pack couldn’t hold with Kenya winning possession and skipper George Nyambua powered over. Kubu converted.
With Uganda’s defense at sixes and sevens, it took Kenya just three minutes to extend the lead. From a long and deep line out, scrumhalf Samuel Asati committed Edward Emiemu and switched to Chao who ran past Oketayot through the opening in the middle to score under the posts. Kubu converted for a 29-10 lead.
Kisiga made an intercept at his own five, running through nearly 70 meters before he was brought down in the opponent’s 22. From the breakdown, Ofoyrwoth went to Joseph Aredo who sent it out to Julius Opio who had Alex Aturinda to his right and the Black Pirates loosie set up Wokorach who danced past Patrick Sabatia and Barry on his way to the posts.
The Cranes went into attack straight after the restart with Wokorach breaking Kenya’s high defensive line. After a couple of poor decisions from Liam Walker and Conrad Wanyama to play inside, Ian Munyani went out to Kasito whose grubber kick was chased down by Oketayot for Uganda’s third try and Namboole was loud again.
However, the resurgence was too little, too late as Young was again set up for another drop goal to put the game out of reach for the Ugandans.
The defeat means Uganda can only finish as high as fifth, their achievement last year.
Africa Cup action continues on Sunday with placement games and cup semifinals.
Placement Semifinals, EAT
- Ivory Coast vs. Senegal – 10:00 am
- Uganda vs. Morocco – 12:00 Noon
Cup Semifinals, EAT
- Algeria vs. Namibia – 2:00 pm
- Zimbabwe vs. Kenya – 4:00 pm