Kenya beats Uganda in Elgon Cup, loses to Zimbabwe

Kenya beats Uganda in Elgon Cup, loses to Zimbabwe

It was mixed fortunes for Kenya’s two rugby teams that were competing concurrently against Uganda and Zimbabwe. The Kenya a team triumphed at the Kenya Rugby Union Grounds beating rivals Uganda by 20 – 17 in a scrappy affair that could have gone either way.

In Zimbabwe, Kenya’s senior team battled hard against the Zimbabwe sables but they slumped to a 28 – 20 loss in the Confederation of African Rugby division 1A match.

In Nairobi, Kenya hosted Uganda at the Kenya Rugby Union Grounds in the Elgon Cup first leg tie.

Surprisingly, the cranes went on the scoreboard first after Chris Lubanga kicked over a penalty following an infringement by the Kenyan camp. Kenya failed to strike back when Esau Otieno’s penalty went begging.

Kenya finally got on the scoreboard when Captain Edwin Makori led by example following a well worked maul moments to the end of the first half. Otieno missed the conversion as the game headed into the break with Kenya leading 5 – 3.

 

Scrappy affair for Kenya

Uganda’s danger man Justin Kimono was lucky to escape with a warning after he got physical with Kenya’s Ken Moseti. In the second half, Charles Omondi stretched Kenya’s advantage with the second try.

Agero, who took up the kicking duties from Otieno, failed to convert. Omondi’s try inspired Kenya’s third when George Asin offloaded to winger Alvin Otieno who outpaced the defense to score.

Uganda could have been turned from hero to villain but Makori was sent off for foul play.

The numerical advantage worked for the Uganda cranes who scored their second try. Charles Omondi cancelled it out as the Kenyan defense stood firm to clinch the unconvincing 20 – 17 victory.

Kenya coach Mitch Ocholla said it was a scrappy affair as “we missed most of our conversions, our lineouts were poor.”

Uganda coach Robert Seguya said; “I am glad with the result we did well, losing by 3 points in Nairobi wasn’t easy.”

In Zimbabwe, Kenya fought hard against the hosts but they slumped to a slim 28 – 20 loss to the sables despite a valiant effort to claw their way back.

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