Elgon Cup: Ugandans stun Simbas

It was Uganda’s first win over Kenya since 2013. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

National men’s rugby 15s team, Simbas,  risk relinquishing the Elgon Cup title following yesterday’s 16-13 loss to Uganda in the first leg at the Mamboleo Showground in Kisumu.

It was Uganda’s first win over Kenya since 2013 and they are now on the verge of ending Simbas’ four-year dominance in the two-legged fixture.

The Cranes led 11-3 at the interval courtesy of a penalty and drop-goal by Kenyan-based scrum-half Aaron Ofoyrwoth while Adrian Kasito managed one unconverted try. Kenya’s points in the opening half were delivered from the penalty spot by national under-20 player Dominic Coulson, who won his first senior cap in the tie.

Apart from Coulson, five other youngsters including his brother Cameron made their maiden appearance for the Simbas. Only eight of the 23 players who were named in the Kenyan line up had featured for the national 15s team before yesterday.

Upon resumption, the sides traded five-pointers with Santos Senteza going over for Uganda before substitute Griffin Musila and his KCB teammate Geoffey Okwach responded for Kenya.

Meanwhile, Simbas’ women counterparts, Lionesses found inspiration from a hat-trick of tries by skipper Philadelphia Olando to hand the Ugandans a 44-13 hiding ahead of the return leg slated for Kampala next month.

Unlike the last meeting between the Lionesses and the Lady Cranes which was a low scoring affair, yesterday’s encounter produced 10 tries, eight scored by the Kenyan ladies.

The Lionesses made their intentions clear early in the first half as they denied the Ugandans possession in the early exchanges with the centre pairing of Philadelphia Olando and Celestine Masinde dictating proceedings in the middle of the pack.

Sevens speedster Grace Adhiambo opened the scoring for Kenya after being fed by debutant Christabel Lindo but the ensuing conversion attempt went wide.

Olando, who is the third player to captain both the national 15s and sevens teams after Doreen Remour and the late Aberdeen Shikhoyi, inked her name on the score sheet with a quick-fire brace before Masinde and Janet Okello crossed the whitewash to hand the Felix Oloo-coached Lionesses an unassailable 27-0 lead at the break.

The script was similar in the second half with Olando completing her hat-trick with a five-pointer before Sophia Ayietta and Stella Wafula compounded Uganda’s miseries with two more tries.

Uganda finally got off the mark courtesy of a try by fly-half Charlotte Mudoola before they put some respectability to the scoreline with another unconverted try and a penalty.