The Uganda Allstar XVs held on under the tough wet conditions of the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds for the better part of the first half against the Blackrock College RFC, but only for so long.
The first 20 minutes of the game were a cagey affair for both teams, but Blackrock were not shy to make their intentions known by making sure that most of the rugby was played in the Ugandan half. Flyhalf James Fennelly and fullback Brian Colclough had a fantastic kicking game during open play, a factor that piled pressure on the Ugandans and pinned them in their own half.
After a short water-break, play resumed with an almost flawless line-out for the Rock, who set up a maul which didn’t directly hurt the Uganda Allstars that time, but a beautiful pick up and finish from Ciaran Patchell gave the visitors the lead, with James Fennelly not splitting the uprights on that occasion.
It was soon becoming the Jamie Rogan try party as the Rock once again set up the maul, which gave the hooker an opportunity to dot down from the back of that rolling maul. The conversion was good this time from Fennelly, who made no mistake off the tee.
Before the end of the first half, Uganda’s fly-half William Nkore managed to pull back 3 points for the hosts to end the first half 12-3 in favour of the Rock.
The second half almost followed the same script as the first, with the first 20 minutes going scoreless, until a Blackrock lineout and maul happened. Jamie Rogan managed to find his Captain Roy Whelan, who was lifted in the lineout. The resulting maul was poorly defended by the Ugandans, leading to another Rogan try. James Fennelly once again slotted in the extra 2 points to bring the Rock’s score to 19 points.
In the dying minutes of the game, the Ugandans finally had a response for the Blackrock as captain Michael Wokorach took matters into his own hands, quick-starting play and dotting down after Uganda got a penalty in a prime area. The Conversion by Ivan Kirabo went wide, and that was the final kick of the game.
The Blackrock College RFC now turn their attention to some charitable works at the Spire School for the Blind and the Kirinya Prison in Jinja, as well as coaching clinics for players and school-going children around the Kakira area.