Uganda’s Impis edge out brave Buffaloes

Same old story for Rwandan clubsHima-Mak 10sPool AMwamba 12-00 BuffaloesKobs 36-00 Buffaloes Buffaloes 42-12 NileBowl Cup¼ finals (Buffaloes 14-5 Mean Machine)½ finals (Buffaloes 12-13 Impis)Bowl winnersBuffaloes (Uganda)Shield winnersMean Machine (Kenya)Plate winnersEntebbe Mongers (Uganda)Main Cup winners MTN Heathens 14-5 Mwamba

Monday, November 10, 2008

Same old story for Rwandan clubs
Hima-Mak 10s
Pool A
Mwamba 12-00 Buffaloes
Kobs 36-00 Buffaloes
Buffaloes 42-12 Nile
Bowl Cup
¼ finals (Buffaloes 14-5 Mean Machine)
½ finals (Buffaloes 12-13 Impis)
Bowl winners
Buffaloes (Uganda)
Shield winners
Mean Machine (Kenya)
Plate winners
Entebbe Mongers (Uganda)
Main Cup winners
MTN Heathens 14-5 Mwamba

Silverware has continued to elude Rwandan sides in the famous Hima-Mak 10s international rugby tournament.

Remera Buffaloes are the latest victims after coming up just short against Uganda’s Impis after a hard-fought 13-12 win for the latter at Kampala’s Kyadondo rugby club.

Despite fielding a short of strength side, the national league champions opened up a commanding 12-0 lead early in the second half as Juma Mugabo coasted over following an interception to add to Benjamin Makombe’s first-half try.

But minutes later, Buffaloes were quickly on the back foot when Impis roused themselves after a lapse in the back line gifting the hosts a try and two quick penalties.

The win ensured that Impis progressed to the Bowl Cup final where they fell to Uganda’s Buffaloes.

Buffaloes’ coach Gerard Nsenga blamed the loss on a lapse in the defense.

Nsenga said: "Everyone will be able to imagine how frustrated we are after that afternoon. We seemed to dominate the territory and possession.

"We really turned up to play today and we played some good stuff. We created a lot of opportunities and won the line breaks but there’s no denying that Impis showed their class when it came to finishing.

Having lost their opening two Pool (A) fixtures against defending champions Mwamba (12-00) and Uganda Kobs (36-00), Buffaloes wrapped up their pool action with a consolation 42-12 win over Nile.

Buffaloes are the third Rwandan team to fall short in this competition after Lion de Fers in 2006 and Gorillas in 2007.

Ends