UAP Rhinos v Dimension Data Rwenzori: Paths to the final

Match Day One
Saturday 5th May 2012
Defending champions UAP Rhinos, playing out of Pool B, began their 2012 Bamburi Rugby Super Series campaign with a 46-9 demolition job of Ugandan side KCB Victoria on a muddy RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi as Dimension Data Rwenzori , also playing out of the same pool, built on a 33-10 half time lead to beat the visiting Mumias Sugar Buffaloes 43-31 in a thrilling game of rugby at the Kampala Rugby Club grounds in Kampala, Uganda.

Match Day Two
Saturday 12th May 2011
Dimension Data Rwenzori would play host to the UAP Rhinos in what was arguably the match of the weekend at the Rugby Club grounds in Kampala, Uganda. The home side lead for the entirety of the match, even leading 12-0 with less than ten minutes on the ticker before a Rhinos comeback saw them trail 12-15. Steve Ogwete would touch down at the death, his try handing Rwenzori the 17-15 with and pole position in Pool B as the Rhinos found themselves in a quandary, facing the prospect elimination if they faltered in their final fixture against the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes who succumbed to a 7-17 home loss to KCB Victoria. .

Match Day Three
Saturday 19th May 2011
With Dimension Data already booking a semi final berth from Pool B, there was all to play for, especially when you considered the fact that the Rhinos and Victoria were still in contention for the remaining semi final slot. A combination of factors were to be considered ahead of kick off. If the Rhinos lost to the Lions and failed to register a bonus point and Victoria beat Rwenzori or lost to Rwenzori but gathered a bonus point, the Rhinos would be heading home. Well, Rwenzori finished top of the pool with a 19-10 win over local rivals Victoria while the Rhinos raced into a 10-0 lead against the Buffaloes, before conceding eighteen unanswered points that saw them trail 10-18 before recovering to win this fixture 25-18 and sneak into the semis as best runner up from Pool B

Match Day Four
Semi Finals
Saturday 26th May 2011
With the field narrowed down to four, the UAP Rhinos were matched up against Pool A winners Lions in the Nairobi fixture at the RFUEA grounds. They would race into a 15-5 midway through the first half courtesy of tries from Leslie Libasia, Victor Sudi and Brian Nyikuli before Edwin Machanje’s try, Fabian Olando’s three penalties and Darwin Mukidza’s try saw the Lions lead 19-15. Wilson Kopondo would seal a sixth straight Rhinos final appearance with a late try that gave them a dramatic 20-19 win.

Over in Kampala, the Dimension Data Rwenzori, winners in Pool B were simply too strong for the SDV Transami Cheetahs, pulling off a 25-0 win against the Pool A runner up, securing their berth in the BRSS, the first time a Ugandan side will feature in the final since they joined the tournament in 2009.

Match Day Five

UAP Rhinos v Dimension Data Rwenzori

It is a Kenya v Uganda affair when defending champions UAP Rhinos from Kenya play Dimension Data Rwenzori from Uganda for the 2012 Bamburi Rugby Super Series title. Rwenzori beat Rhinos 17-15 earlier in the competition. Earlier this year, Uganda’s national team beat Kenya 19-17 to lift the Elgon Cup. There is everything to play for. Can the Rhinos restore Kenya pride in regional rugby or can Rwenzori stamp Ugandan dominance?

UAP Rhinos players to watch

Edwin Makori, Eden Agero, Victor Sudi, Chris Oduor, Brian Nyikuli, Wilson Kopondo

Top Try Scorer
Wilson Kopondo 4 tries

Top Points Scorer

Eden Agero (6 conversions, 3 penalties) 21 points

Dimension Data Rwenzori players to watch

Players to watch
Steve Ogwete, Marvin Odongo, Tony Kinene, Justin Kimono

Leading try scorers:
Steve Ogwete and Marvin Odongo 4 tries each

Leading Points Scorer
Tony Kinene 7 conversions, 5 penalties (29 points)