All to play for after Elgon Cup 1st leg

The Lady Cranes left it late but managed to set up what promises to be an epic finish in Kampala this Saturday as they aim to reclaim the Elgon Cup against their bitter rivals Kenya.

Playing at the grand Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani- Kasarani for short, the game kicked off at high tempo with the host Kenya ladies in control of the game. This did not faze the Uganda Lady Cranes who managed to take the lead through the boot of Rachel Babirye Kakaire whose earlier effort from the Kenyan 10 metre line had bounced off the posts. This would embody their spirit all evening, a never say die attitude.

A penalty conversionby Kenyan flyhalf, Doreen Remuor, leveled the scores. The Kenyan backline boasting the inclusion of Kenya soccer International, Irene Otieno, at full back was full of running orchestrated by Doreen and the storming runs of the outside centre, Celestine Masinde, that saw quite a number of missed tackles from the Lady Cranes. Kenya’s early possession was finally rewarded with a try from their sleek looking backline that troubled the Lady cranes all night. With the conversion missed, the Ugandans were still within 5 points of the Kenyans. The Lady Cranes kept in touch through a penalty by Rachel to bring the half time score to 8-6. Half time ended 8-6 to the hosts with the Lady cranes being let down by missed tackles and handling mistakes made worse by the wet surface and drizzle.

The second half seemed to be a continuation of the first as the Lionesses continued to dominate play with centre Philadelphia Olando kicking a loose ball in Ugandan 22 in the early minutes and gathering it to score and take the Kenyans to a 7 point lead. The conversion was missed so the score remained at 13-6. Cometh the hour cometh the Woman, from the resulting restart and return Kenya were caught in possession and a clever kick from outside centre Helen Buteme led a counter attack which saw the full back caught in possession and not releasing on the ground in a kickable position. Captain Warry Nambirige, credit to her did not panic, opting to chip away at the lead through the kick points. Rachael obliged and cut the lead down to 4 points. Again the lethal combination of Doreen and Celestine released the left wing, Janet Awuor, to score in the corner to take the game to 18-9 and seemingly out of the Lady Cranes’ reach. A few plays later and Kenya were again caught in possession as the Uganda defence held firm and Helen again from first receiver kicked behind the defence and with an equally good chase from her backline saw the wing this time give away a penalty which Rachel again kicked to cut the lead down to 6 points. The Lionesses were spurred into action again and the attacks continued down the backline that thankfully the Ugandan scramble defence was able to keep out.

With the clock running down the Lady Cranes defence seemed to have worn down the Kenyans and the Lady Cranes were in ascendency and now on the attack. The pressure finally paid off as the Lady Cranes set up a ruck from a penalty in the Kenya 22 and a phase later the ball came to Helen Buteme, now playing at fullback, but seemed to be playing as flyhalf. Helen looked to go wide early but sensing that the pass was not on and the Kenyans were bunched up opted for a kick pass across the pitch that not only amazed the crowd but set Asha Nakityo running in on the far left for the Cranes first try and narrow the score to within one point with a conversion to come. The host crowd held their breath as Charlotte

Mudoola who, with Rachel off the pitch, had now taken over the kicking duties and was poised to steal it at the death. Unfortunately (for the Lady Cranes) the kick came short and the score remained 18-17 which is how it stayed ending a couple of plays later. Relief for the Kenyan fans and players, joy for the Ugandan players and fans who know the fortress that is Kampala at Kyadondo Rugby Club, to finish off the job and finally reclaim the mountain. The game kicks off at 2pm on Saturday 22 June at Kyadondo Rugby Club.

More match photos

Uganda: 1. Warry Nambirige (Thunderbirds – Captain); 2. Rosenburg Kanyunyunzi (Thunderbirds); 3. Christine Kizito (Thunderbirds) (Aalliyah Adania); 4. Evelyn Aweku (Thunderbirds) (Irene Zigge); 5. Hellen Gizamba (Black Panthers); 6. Loy Mbabazi (Black Panthers); 7. Josephine Namayega (Black Panthers) (Mary Nakanyike); 8. Beatrice Atim (Entebbe Sharks); 9. Charlotte Mudoola (Black Panthers); 10. Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds); 11. Asha Nakityo (Thunderbirds) (1 try); 12. Brenda Kayiyi (Black Panthers – assistant captain) (1 yellow card for offside); 13. Helen Buteme (Thurrock T-birds); 14. Matilda Tino (Thunderbirds) (Fortunate Irankunda); 15. Rachel Babirye Kakaire (Thunderbirds) (4 penalties) (Claire Anena)

Replacements; 16. Fortunate Irankunda (Entebbe Whales); 17. Aalliyah Adania (Thunderbirds); 18. Mary Nakanyike (Thunderbirds); 19. Irene Zigge (Thunderbirds); 20. *Fiona Nalubwama (Thunderbirds); 21. Claire Anena (Black Panthers); 22. Jean Mary Nyadoyi (Kyoita) (Thunderbirds); 23. *Zurah Namatovu (Thunderbirds)

Management; Team manager: Dominica Kulia; Coach: Brian Makalama; Assistant coach: Anthony Kinene; Team doctor: Dr. Violet Kyakumanya

Kenya: 1.Rebecca Kerubo (Rovers); 2. *Rosehilda Kamanga (Eldoret RFC); 3. Camilyn Oyuayo (Mwamba); 4.Shanice Gaikumi (Mwamba); 5.Rachel Adhiambo (Rovers); 6.*Sheila Chajira (Hidden Talent); 7.Mary Otieno (Mwamba); 8.Angela Olum (Mwamba); 9. Mary Musieka (Rovers); 10.Doreen Remuor (Mwamba – captain) (1 penalty); 11.Catherine Abila (Mwamba); 12.Philadelphia Olando (Mwamba) (1 try); 13. Celestine Masinde (Mwamba) (1 try); 14.Janet Awuor (Kenya Commercial Bank) (1 try); 15. Irene Otieno (Rovers) (1 yellow card for punching)

Replacements 16. Dorcas Ocholi (Mwamba); 17.Janet Midecha (Kenya Commercial Bank); 18. *Laventer Ogutu (Mwamba); 19. *Vivian Cheserk (Rovers); 20. *Janet Okello (Kenya Commercial Bank); 21. Linda Anyango (Mwamba); 22. Robinah Wambui (Kenya Commercial Bank);

Management; Team manager: Doris Mwanzia; Coach: Enos Otieno; Assistant coaches: Kevin Wambua, Malik Ndemi, Mike Shamiah; Team physiotherapist: Ben Mahinda;

Match Officials: Maarlize Jodaarn (Centre Referee, South Africa), Peris Mukoko, Alfred Okwemba (Assistant Referees, Kenya), Sammy Kariuki (Match Commissioner, Kenya);

Scoring sequence:

First half: 22 minutes: penalty by Rachel Babirye Kakaire (UG); 28 minutes: penalty by Doreen Remuor (KE); 30 minutes: yellow card to Brenda Kayiyi for offside (UG); 30 minutes: try by Celestine Masinde (KE); 36 minutes: penalty by Rachel Babirye Kakaire (UG)

Second half; 44 minutes: try by Philadelphia Olando (KE); 51 minutes: penalty by Rachel Babirye Kakaire (UG); 59 minutes: try by Janet Awuor (KE); 62 minutes: penalty by Rachel Babirye Kakaire (UG); 70 minutes: try by Asha Nakityo (UG); 75 minutes: yellow card to Irene Otieno for punching (KE)

*There was no MVP for the game, however, the Kenyan captain, Doreen Remuor, nominated Rachel Babirye Kakaire as her player of the match for the Ugandan team for her splendid kicking for posts.