Uganda Rugby Premiership | SF Playoff First Leg
- Heathens 12-17 Black Pirates
On a chilly Friday evening under the bright skies of Kyadondo Rugby Grounds, the Black Pirates etched a statement win in what felt like a scene lifted straight from last year’s Uganda Rugby Premiership final.
This time, however, it wasn’t just about pride; it was about survival, redemption, and the pursuit of a championship.
The Pirates, with their black sails high and hearts steeled for battle, overcame defending champions Heathens with a gritty 17-12 away victory.
It was a win that didn’t just snap the stronghold the Heathens held at Kyadondo, it charted a clear course for the Pirates towards the final, with a second Leg at their own fortress, Kings Park Arena still looming in the air.
This was no ordinary game, it was a reawakening of old rivalries, a continuation of unfinished business. The Heathens, record champions and feared titans at home, gave their fans an electrifying start.
Nickolas Kato’s early try, neatly converted by Malcolm Okello sent the home crowd roaring, signalling that the champions weren’t ready to relinquish their crown just yet.
But the Pirates had other plans with composure and calculated aggression, they struck back. Timothy Kisiga sliced through the Heathens’ line to draw them level.
Then came Frank Kidega, whose try, along with William Nkore’s flawless boot, including a crucial penalty that pushed the Pirates into a commanding 17-7 lead.
Though Shadon Munoko’s second-half try for Heathens narrowed the gap to 17-12, it was too little, too late. The defending champions were sunk on their own turf.
William Nkore, the man with the golden boot and the heart of a warrior, summed it up best after the game. “It was a bit tight; they actually ended up scoring, so we came from behind to get the game.”
His words carried the weight of every tackle and the breathlessness of every ruck. “In the middle, it became a bit tough but in the end, we got the win, we thank God for it.”
Nkore wasn’t just instrumental on the scoreboard, he was the emotional engine of the team. Even after taking what looked like a brutal tackle, he fought on.
“Honestly, I feel something but I will fight. Shoulder to shoulder, me and my brothers.” A minor injury, he assured fans, won’t keep him from the next battle. “I promise, I will be there.”
On the losing side, Heathens’ Shadon Munoko spoke with the candour of a warrior not yet ready to surrender.
Brought on in the second half, he reignited hope with a determined try. “My awareness was a bit high in the game,” he reflected.
“I was looking at the gaps, I’m hoping next game I’ll start and for sure we’re going to win.”
His words were filled with resolve, but also a hint of regret. “We showed up a bit late. In the first half we had a bit of laxity.”
Yet he was quick to highlight their resurgence in the second half and vowed to bring that fire into the second leg.
With this vital away win, the Black Pirates now hold a clear advantage heading into the return leg at Kings Park Arena where the sea favours its sailors.
The Pirates’ camp will be buoyed not just by the scoreline but by the mental edge of having brought down the champions in their own stronghold.
The Uganda Rugby Premiership action continues tomorrow at Dam Waters where Jinja Hippos take on KOBs in another much-anticipated semifinal playoff.
