It was a double sweet victory for the MTN Heathens Rugby Club after emerging this year’s edition of the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) organized Rugby 7s championship.
The local Rugby giants not only enjoyed a podium finish after topping the table with 86 points, but the 21-12 victory over rivals Toyota Buffaloes in the main final at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) grounds in Mbarara on Saturday, was their sweetest moment.
The event that had been organized on a four-round circuits basis, saw the Heathens travel for the last circuit in Mbarara with confidence after having won the third last circuit at Kyadondo Rugby Club grounds recently.
And this confidence was evident when they walloped the Stallions 31-00 and the Mutoni Warriors 17-05, before beating the Rams 35-5 in the semi finals, en-route to the main final where they met their arch rivals.
It was such a much awaited finale for the fans that had thronged the grounds in hundreds and had to brave the drizzling skies for long spells of the evening.
However, their long wait and endurance were paid back by the skill and commitment the two sides showed especially in the opening minutes after kick off.
But the Heathens drew the first blood with tormentor Michael Wakorachi running free twice for the first two tries, before Allan Okello added another with team captain Allan Otim making no mistakes with the subsequent conversions.
“We were well prepared for this and definitely this has been out of team work. We want to work hard in every outing that comes our way this time,” Team captain Otim said after leading the rest to the podium cerebrations.
The Buffaloes finished second overall on 68 points while the Rams were third on 56 even when they lost 14-7 to the Warriors in the plate final.
Bowl finalists X-FM Impis finished seventh of the 12 teams in the competition, thanks to their 19-00 beating of hosts MUST in the semi finals.
Bowl final-G4 Sailors 14 X-FM Impis 7
Plate final-Mutoni Warriors 14 Rams 7
Main final-MTN Heathens 21 Toyota Buffaloes 12
Top final standings Pts
MTN Heathens 86
Buffaloes 68
Rams 56
Warriors 48
Kobs 36
Stallions 32
X-FM Impis 26
Mongers 24
Past four circuit winners
Kampala Circiut- Mutoni Warriors
Makerere Circiut- Toyota Buffaloes
Kyandondo Circiut- MTN Heathens
Mbarara Circiut- MTN Heathens
By Aloysius Byamukama, The New Vision
