After six years of waiting, Namilyango College are central schools’ rugby champions after their victory on Sunday afternoon.
The Namilyango College (NGO) Anchors were 28-05 winners over their eternal nemesis, the St Mary’s College (SMACK) Eagles on a muddy, but packed Graveyard rugby pitch, in Makerere.
It was a battle of tactical and situational awareness, of which Namilyango came out on top. Namilyango led 6-0 at the halfway point courtesy of two penalties, one each from the reliable boot services of Job Wembabazi and Emmanuel Azirwe.
Right out of the sheds into the second half, SMACK came out hunting and was rewarded out wide, thanks to a beautiful line move that ended in the capable hands and quick feet of Brandon Muhumuza.
After this point, Namilyango took the game out of SMACK’s hand, scoring 22 unanswered points to march on to a 28-05 win.
The Ngonians scored three tries of their own through Nathan Kakaire, Tendo Kigozi, and Emmanuel Okurute and converted twice (one a piece from Job Wembabazi and Emmanuel Azirwe) and a penalty from Wembabazi.
At the full-time whistle’s blast, it was redemption for the boys from Mukono and coach Kakuru Ambrose who lost agonisingly to SMACK in 2019 and had to wait five years (most of it COVID-reinforced) to bring glory to Namilyango.
Namilyango College now reigns atop with 12 titles, with the next best tally being 5 from Kings College Budo, while SMACK and Hana International are tied at 3 each. Kololo SSS and Kyambogo College have one title each to their names.
In the earlier age-grade finals, SMACK were U15 and U17 winners over Kings College Budo, winning 19-00 and 25-03 respectively.
Central Region Schools (Boys) Rugby Championship Finals
Sunday, 7th April, 2024
U-15: SMACK 19-00 Budo
U-17: SMACK 25-03 Budo
U-20: Namilyango College 28-05 SMACK
Past Winners:
1996 – Namilyango College
1997 – Kings College Budo
1998 – Namilyango College
1999 – Kings College Budo
2000 – Namilyango College
2001 – Namilyango College
2002 – Kyambogo College
2003 – Kings College Budo
2004 – Kings College Budo
2005 – Namilyango College
2006 – Namilyango College
2007 – Namilyango College
2008 – Namilyango College
2009 – St Mary’s College Kisubi
2010 – Kings College Budo
2011 – Hana International School
2012 – Namilyango College
2013 – Hana International School
2014 – Kololo Senior Secondary School
2015 – Not Held
2016 – St Mary’s College Kisubi
2017 – Namilyango College
2018 – Namilyango College
2019 – St Mary’s College Kisubi
2020 – Not Held
2021 – Not Held
2022 – Not Held
2023 – Hana International School
2024 – Namilyango College
Title Tally
Namilyango College – 12
Kings College Budo – 5
St Mary’s College Kisubi – 3
Hana International School – 3
Kyambogo College – 1
Kololo Senior Secondary School – 1
Courtesy Photos
