After four first-half substitutions and trailing at the break, the Buffaloes had to find something special in the second half to see off Impis.
It was a game of two halves where Impis were comfortable in the lead for the first half, but the Buffaloes unlocked a new level to score 24 unanswered points in the second.
Whereas coach Charles Onen knew that this encounter wouldn’t be a walk in the park, he and his charges were clearly stunned.
“It was really a tough contest, especially the first half. We went to the changing room trailing, and we had to compose ourselves as a team. We knew it was going to get harder in the second half,” Onen noted.
After only 30 minutes, Onen had seen enough from Arthur Akampa and Eddy Obalim, his starting props, prompting him to make early changes.
“Their scrum shook us a bit, and we were forced to make some changes, and I think the boys that came on did quite well,” recalls Onen.
Additionally, the Buffaloes were forced into an early change in the backline, bringing on eventual man of the match, Daniels Otim.
“The changes in backs came on, and we went to a running game and produced some scoring opportunities that we managed to take advantage of,” added Onen.
Players like Kennedy Muhumuza, Aaron Tukei and Yasin Waiswa finally came alive in the second half, much to the satisfaction of their coaches.
“It was a good contest from a young Impis team, and we expected it but we had to dig deeper because we knew that for us to stand a chance, we had to dig deep and make sure we work it out,” noted Onen, speaking to the mindset of his players in the second half.
In the larger scheme of things, Onen was impressed with the rugby on display from both sides and had some kind words for the visiting team.
“Credit to Impis as well, a very good team. I pray they keep together because there is a lot of talent in there that the country can benefit from. The larger picture for me is to see how these young boys [Buffaloes and Impis] can grow into the national team and represent us, because as coaches that is the pride we can have,” remarked Onen, who is also the Uganda Lady Cranes 7s coach and part of the Lady Cranes 15 coaching set up.