The best way to start the 2023-2024 rugby season was to carry on from where the last season left off – giving beautiful surprises.
Recently promoted to the premiership, the Eagles were the weekend’s biggest winners, claiming an enormous 13-03 win over the Pirates.
Pirates went ahead in the first half through a Jones Kamiza penalty before the Eagles scored two of their own, thanks to flyhalf Mugisha Keith, and sent the game 03-06 at the half.
The second half, just like the first, saw many handling errors from either side and the ball bobbling over on the other end. A well-worked move saw the Eagles find space to kick into on the wing; poor clearance from the Pirates gifted the ball into Captain Araptai’s path, who kicked it further into the end zone before diving on the ball to score the try.
Mugisha got a lucky break, with the ball bouncing off the upright to make the conversion good. The game would end 13-03 to the visiting Eagles.
At Legends, there was drama when the KOBs, Warriors, and Rhinos refused to sign an amended manual that would lock out sponsorships to the teams for only one other sponsor’s benefit. In the lead-up to the weekend, the Legends clubs had secured backing from Guinness to cater to playing apparel and player welfare, but the amended manual would make this deal null and void.
Owing to that confusion, the three teams that call Legends home pulled out of participation until this issue was resolved amicably. We understand that a meeting between the said clubs, Uganda Rugby Union, and Nile Breweries will take place this coming week to iron out the issue.
Uganda Cup Week One Collated Results:
- Platinum Credit Heathens 30-00 Kyambogo
- Stanbic Black Pirates 03-13 Eagles
- Jinja Hippos 53-00 Gulu City Falcons
- Tooro Lions 00-95 Walukuba Barbarians
- Njeru Hurricanes 30-18 Mbarara Titans
- Elgon Wolves 40-00 Kitgum Lions
- KCB KOBs vs. Warriors – Not Played
- Rhinos vs. Lira Bulls – Not Played
