Rugby Elgon Cup results
Women:
Kenya 37 Uganda 3
Men
Kenya 13 Uganda 15
Rugby Cranes defeated Kenya 16-13 in the first leg of the Elgon Cup in Kisumu breaking a six-year jinx without defeating their host at home.
The Cranes last defeated Kenya in 2013 in Nairobi and the score was 17-16 in highly contested fixture.
However, Coach Robert Sseguya believes that the Saturday win was just the beginning and the most important results is that of the return leg on July 13 in Kampala.
“It is not yet over till the July 13th at home. We have won the battle, but not a war,” Sseguya said after the game.
“I’m proud of the boys. They put their bodies on the line for their nation and we had an important win that will motivate these young boys in the return leg. I’m really proud of them,” He added.
Adrian Kasito gave the Nile Special Sponsored Rugby Cranes lead courtesy of a try and Aaron Ofoywroth added a drop goal and a penalty to stretch Uganda lead to 11-0.
Kenya fought back replying through a penalty by Dominic Coulson to force a 11-3 break.
On return Santos Ssenteza added a try for Uganda stretch lead to 16-3 but the Kenyans fought back in front of a mammoth home crowd managing two tries which were not enough to stop the Rugby Cranes from victory.
Ofoywroth Voted Man of the Match
Fly half Aaron Ofoywroth popularly known as double black in the Kenya Harlequins where he features in Club rugby emerged man of the match.
His kicking skills destabilized the Kenyans who thought that the game was going to be a walk in the pack.
Sseguya men bruised:
Great wars always leave casualties and indeed the Saturday game left Sseguya’s men bruised.
With support from the fans sponsored by Nile Special, Skipper Asuman Mugerwa popularly known as beast by his Kabras fans and teammate, was overworked when Kenya applied a physical game.
This left Eliphaz Emong and Byron Oketayot injured and were rested in the second half.
The medical team will have to work harder to see that they fix these men before the return leg on July 13 at Kyadondo Rugby Club.
