The Panthers ran riot when they hosted the Mbale Eagles at the Legends Rugby Grounds in the Uganda Cup on Saturday.
In the first minute of the game, Latifa Tiko ran through for a try, which she converted. A second converted try for the Panthers put the game to bed, making it clear that the Mbale Eagles were out of their depth.
A third try for the Panthers by Tiko, who was assisted by Aminah Nalujja, only added salt to injury as the Mbale Eagles kept reducing in numbers due to injuries. This try was converted by Leticia Faustina, who got her second successful attempt of the first half.
The Mbale Eagles played without their skipper, Mastula Namboozo, who watched on from the stands as her team received a thumping. She is currently in the Lady Cranes 7s training camp that is preparing for the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s.
The Panthers continued with their first-half onslaught through a Brenda Kayiyi try, with Nalujja fluffing the conversion attempt. The Naguru side were clearly the superior in size and experience, as they dominated the Mbale Eagles, the first half ending 31-00.
The game was prematurely ended in the second half as the Mbale Eagles were reduced to fewer than 12 players through injury and a yellow card.
The Panthers weren’t flawless either. In the first half, Hadijja Namuganga received a yellow card early on, and as the half wound down, they survived a second yellow card to Tiko after the Centre Referee, Sama Emmanuel, consulted with the assistant.
At the beginning of the second half, Tiko wasn’t so lucky, getting sent to the sin bin for leading with an elbow into contact.
The Panthers then added another try through Evelyn Angom and it was converted by Leticia Faustina, before the game was brought to a sudden end. It ended 38-00 for the Panthers.