On a thrilling Saturday evening at Legends Rugby Grounds in Naguru, KOBs Rugby Club secured a narrow 30-28 victory over Pirates Rugby Club in the Uganda Rugby Premiership.
The game, which saw Sylvester Mbuga make his debut, was a showcase of intense competition and resilience from both sides.
Pirates took an early lead, with William Nkore opening the scoring just two minutes into the game with a well-taken penalty.
Nkore continued to be instrumental for the Sea Robbers, successfully converting penalties and tries to keep his team in the contest but his efforts were not enough on the day.
However, KOBs responded with remarkable composure. Team Vice Captain Joseph Aredo played a pivotal role in securing the win, contributing five penalties and a try across both halves.
The decisive moment came late in the game when Josiah Ssempeke, who had already converted a crucial kick, sealed the victory with a drop goal.
Following the game, Aredo took a moment to reflect on the performance and express gratitude to the team and fans.
“It was showing up for us, backing us all the way, through the good times, and now we are going back to the glory days,” Aredo remarked, acknowledging the unwavering support from fans.
He was quick to credit his teammates for the victory, stating, “I’m not the one who led the charge back. Ian Munyani, Eric, Frank Kakula, and the rest of the team are the ones who decided to play for themselves. So this win is courtesy of the boys, as lucky for us.”
Hinting at personal motivation, he added cryptically, “During the week I crossed the bridge, if you understand, you understand.”
Aredo also lauded his teammates’ dedication and work ethic, saying, “Every day the boys have been putting in the hard yards, so to me, I’m proud of them.”
Lastly, he extended his gratitude to the fans, encouraging them to keep supporting the team.
“To the fans, I’m proud of you for always supporting us. Big up to you guys, and to the fans of rugby, keep on pushing.”
Elsewhere in the league, there were some surprising results. Hippos Rugby stunned Heathens with a commanding 38-22 victory in Jinja, marking Heathens’ second consecutive defeat of the campaign.
Buffaloes and Victoria Sharks battled to a 21-21 draw at Kyadondo, while Rhinos dominated Elgon Wolves 52-10 at Legends.
In Entebbe, Mongers cruised to a 35-12 victory over Eagles Rugby Club, while Walukuba overwhelmed Warriors 41-11.
