Toyota Buffaloes pulled off a sensational upset on Saturday afternoon, defeating KCB KOBs 17-7 within the first leg of the Uganda Rugby Premiership quarterfinals at Kyadondo Rugby Membership.
Regardless of being the underdogs heading into the match, Buffaloes held their nerve and delivered a composed, medical efficiency to take a vital 10-point benefit into the second leg.
KOBs struck first, taking the lead contained in the opening quarter-hour by means of an Adrian Mutebi strive, which was efficiently transformed by Joseph Aredo.
Nevertheless, two missed penalties by Aredo proved expensive, as KOBs failed to increase their early lead. Buffaloes remained inside attain, with Liam Walker slotting in a penalty to make it 3-7 earlier than halftime.
The momentum shifted within the second half when Ronald Kanyanya crashed over the road to provide Buffaloes the lead. Within the dying minutes, Omara Raymond delivered the knockout blow, operating half the size of the pitch and scoring beneath the posts. Walker calmly slotted each conversions to seal a well-known 17-7 victory.
“It’s been a nasty season for us up to now,”stated Liam Walker after the match.
“Lots of people have been writing us off, saying Buffaloes had no likelihood, however we needed to exit and show everybody unsuitable. We performed a territorial recreation, spent a whole lot of time of their half, and defensively we have been fairly strong. KOBs made a whole lot of errors, and we managed to capitalize on them.”
Buffaloes had completed seventh within the common season and entered the tie as clear underdogs in opposition to the second positioned KOBs. Walker, nevertheless, warned that the job is much from carried out.
“Ten factors may be very straightforward to make up, so we’ve to work on our weaknesses and go even tougher subsequent weekend,”he added. “KOBs are wounded and can come at us stronger.”
KOBs head coach Timothy Mudoola remained optimistic forward of the return leg.
“It’s us who handed that victory to them,” Mudoola stated.
“They didn’t need to work laborious for it, however they confirmed extra starvation and that’s what it takes to power a greater crew into errors. These 10 factors might be closed inside the first 20 minutes. We simply must get our heads in the fitting place.”
Elsewhere Jinja Hippos defeated Rhinos 11-20 at Legends and Standbic Black Pirates received 20-27 in opposition to Walukuba Barbarians on the Abel Dhaira grounds in Jinja. All of the second leg video games can be performed subsequent Saturday, twelfth April.
