The Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes got off to a rough start at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, losing 43-10 to the Kenya Lionesses on Saturday.
In the opening exchanges of the first half, the Lady Cranes held their own, only conceding one converted try in 10 minutes through Janet Okello’s line-breaking run, before the centre handed the ball over to her flyhalf Moreen Muritu for the try.
The Lady Cranes then fought back to equalise through Cabrine Kirabo’s try that came off the quick thinking of Fazira Namukwaya, who scratched before the Kenyan defence was fully set up.
The Lady Cranes were let down by their kicking, often not finding touch and gifting Kenya possession. Kenya’s second try came after Juliet Nandawula’s kick landed in the waiting Kenyan hands for Stella Wafula’s try.
The Lionesses then stretched their lead to 22 points, making a comeback impossible for the Lady Cranes, despite Bushira Namutebi’s penalty before the halftime break.
In the second half, Kenya’s three converted tries went unanswered by the Lady Cranes.
In the post-match interview, Uganda’s head coach Muhammad Athiyo noted that the Lady Cranes’ focus was to take every game at a time, starting with the Lionesses.
Up next are South Africa’s Springboks Women this Wednesday. Athiyo notes, “With our game up against South Africa, they are a brute team, so we look forward to our pack being more agile and trying to match the South African pack.”
The game against South Africa is going to be a steep learning curve for most of the Lady Cranes, especially the debutants. That encounter should be able to sharpen the Ugandans before they face off against Madagascar on May 31 in a must-win encounter.