The curtain has been drawn on the Uganda Rugby National Championship regular season and the results are in.
Heathens Reign Supreme
The Platinum Credit Heathens are on top of the table as the best team of the regular season with 10 wins and one draw. The only team to deny the Heathens a win was the Jinja Hippos at Dam Waters.
The Heathens have had production from all across the board and have 5 different players that have scored 5 or more tries (M. Wokorach 8, J. Oyet 7, M. Amollo 6, L. Sebuliba 5, and M. Okello 5) – as compiled by Isa Metrics and Fat Cats.
The engine fulcrum of the half-backs has seen productive stints from Daniel Malcolm Okello, Paul Epillo, Chris Lubanga, and the ever-green Gamma Faisal.
The Heathens derby win against the Buffaloes condemned the latter to 7th position, with 5 wins, one draw, and 5 losses to call it a season.
Jinja Hippos Remain a Threat
All season, only the Jinja Hippos have managed to keep up with the Heathens. The Dam Waters side finished second, with 8 wins, 2 losses, and one draw.
The Jinja-based side succumbed to only their second loss of the season on the last day, being outlasted by Mongers, with Robin Odrua winning the battle of the kickers against Hippos’ Yasin Wasswa – scoring seven penalties and a conversion on the day.
Top boy Andrew Odhiambo finishes the season as the top try scorer with 11 tries. Robin and Yasin finish as the top two points scorers with 146 points and 116 points respectively. Mongers end the season in fifth place with 8 wins and 3 losses.
Black Pirates Secure Third
The defending champions, Stanbic Balck Pirates, welcomed back estranged captain Ivan Magomu in their last outing of the regular season, who inspired them to a bonus point win over the Impis to confirm third place with 8 wins and 3 losses.
In a season where things have been topsy-turvy for the Kings Park Arena side, they’ll salute the reliable production from skipper Kidega, winger Arnold Atukunda, and bubbling under Frederick Mulindwa who kept the ship on course in the absence of Ivan Magomu.
Owing to the loss, Impis finish rock bottom with a solitary win, a draw, and 9 losses. Their only win came on the opening weekend, and that feels like ages ago.
Rhinos Rise from the Ashes
The Rhinos were winners over the Kampani’s Eagles to break their 5-game losing skid. The Rhinos started the season on a perfect game run, before crossing over to the dark side in a 180-degree turn and losing five on the bounce.
They finish the season with 6 wins and 5 losses, and owing to favorable results elsewhere, they climb from 8th to 6th.
The Eagles finish their first season in 9th place and as the best of the worst performers. It is not all bad as all the three teams below them have been playing premier rugby before. They finish the season on 9 points with 2 wins and 9 losses.
KOBs End Season on a High
2021 Champions KCB KOBs saw off the Walukuba Barbarians to end their season on a high and close out the Top four, ending the season with 7 wins, one draw, and 3 losses.
They pip the Mongers (who have more wins) by virtue of bonus points accrued. In a season they’d love to forget very first, the KOBs have been reliably served by rookie Benjamin Muwanguzi Luyirika who rose up the try-scoring charts (7 tries) on top of being a stellar ball carrier.
The Barbarians rounded up the top 8 of the season, finishing the season with 5 wins and 6 losses, sliding down to 8th owing to the loss to KOBs and Rhinos beating the Eagles.
Game week 11 match updates
Saturday, 20th April, 2024
Plascon Mongers 28-21 Jinja Hippos
Kampani’s Eagles 14-25 Rhinos
Lifeguard Rams 23-17 Warriors
KCB KOBs 30-20 Walukuba Barbarians
Stanbic Black Pirates 41-13 Impis
Toyota Buffaloes 18-27 Platinum Credit Heathens
Courtesy Photos
