The usual sluggish start was Rwenzori’s undoing as they succumbed to a 24-18 defeat at the hands of Kenyan side Ndovu in the Bamburi Rugby Super Series final in Nairobi on Saturday.
Asuman Mugerwa who was turned in a match-winning performance away in Nairobi against Mamba could do little to inspire his team to win.
It was a repeat of Ndovu’s 33-10 win in Kampala over Rwenzori during the Pool games at Kyadondo in a game that the home side were punished also for a slow start and easily conceding early points.
This was confessed by both team captain Alex Mubiru and acting coach Tolbert Onyango after the game.
“We played well and could have won this game but we relaxed in the beginning and conceded early points. The boys just need to wake up early enough but they were good overall and we’ll wait for next year,”Mubiru stated.
The Uganda Franchise that didn’t travel with their coach Fred Mudoola due to work commitments, lacked composure and looked intimidated in the first half with many missed tackles, poor recovery to conceding two tries, a penalty and a conversion that left them trailing 15-3 at half time.
The hosts looked superior in both fitness and body conditioning and displayed remarkable speed and reactions.
Javan Mutayi and Michael Okombe scored Ndovu’s two tries and Martin Muita added a penalty and conversion while youngster Joseph Aredo scored Rwenzori’s penalty.
In the second half Rwenzori conceded two early penalties from Muita’s boot to stretching Ndovu’s lead to 21-3 before Aredo replied with a penalty to close the gap to 21-6 but Muita added yet another penalty for Ndovu to stretch the lead to 24-6.
With a mountain to climb and time running out, Asuman Mugerwa scored a try but Emmanuel Echudu missed the conversion to keep the score at 24-11.
Acting coach Tolbert Onyango made changes replacing Ronald Adigas with Solomon Mawanda and Davis Kiwalabye for Faizal Gama in the scrum half while Mathew Egeru replaced Asuman Mugerwa.
The changes sparked life into Rwenzori who dominated the closing stages to score a try and conversion courtesy of Denis Etuket and Solomon Okias respectively to close the gap 24-18 and silence the mammoth crowd.
Rwenzori piled pressure on the hosts but time it came a little too late to save the game.
Rwenzori received a trophy and a cash prize of ksh250, 000 (approx. sh7.8m) while champions Ndovu received a cash prize of Ksh400, 000.
Bamburi final
Ndovu 24 Rwenzori 18
Third place play-off
Nyumbu 21 Papa 44
Man of the Series: Martin Muita (Ndovu)
Top scorer: Martin Muita (Ndovu)
Top try scorer: Lawrence Buyachi (Ndovu)
By Johnson Were, The New Vision
