Heathens have booked their place in the playoff semifinal of the Uganda Rugby Premiership by beating Victoria Sharks 20-19 at Kyadondo.
The record champions won the first leg of the encounter by 6 points off Malcom Okello’s boot, and that brings the aggregate score to 26-19.
Okello was once again called into action in the second leg, opening the scoring with a penalty, before running a beautiful line and selling an audacious dummy to score the first try of the game.
With the game looking like it had stalled at 15-03, scrumhalf Daniel Kateregga caught the Heathens defenders napping on the fringes of the ruck and ran in to score the Sharks’ first try. Paul Mutsami converted that try and added 2 more penalties to give the Sharks a 16-15 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Sharks abandoned the 3-point strategy, opting to scratch and start, or kick for the line-out. Despite the Sharks winning most of the physical battles, with big carries from players like Saul Kivumbi and Mark Omoding, who ended up being the man of the match, this dominance culminated in nothing tangible.
The introduction of Aaron Ofoyrwoth changed the flow for the Heathens. The ball started moving faster from end to end, often catching the Sharks offside. Additionally, open play kicks from Ofoyrwoth and Okello put the Sharks’ defence under pressure, pinning them back in their own half. It’s through one of those kicks that substitute winger Alphonse Openy pounced on a loose ball and scored a try to put the two-legged fixture to bed.
Heathens have now set a semifinal date with the Black Pirates whose first leg will be on June 6 at Kyadondo, and the return leg is set for June 13 at Kings Park Arena.