Chris Oduor dives to score for the UAP Rhinos against the KCB Victoria. Photo Copyright: BRSS/Billy Mugambi

The 10th edition of the Bamburi rugby super series kicked off with four matches taking place in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kampala on Saturday 5 May 2012.

In Nairobi last year’s finalists the SDV Transami Cheetahs snatched a narrow 11-7 win from the jaws of the Nguvu Sharks. The Sharks had taken the early lead through an Edwin Salamba try, the Cheetahs replied through a Steve Sakwa penalty to narrow the gap to 7-3, the soggy RFUEA pitch made the encounter a scrappy affair with ball handling errors being the order of the day. The game would go into the half with the scores at 7-3 with no side being able to completely dominate proceedings.

The Second half was still a see saw affair, but the Cheetahs were slowly imposing themselves on the game courtesy of their forwards. This pressure by the Cheetahs would finally pay off when Steve Sakwa slotted in his second penalty of the day to bring the score to 7-6. With the half winding down the Sharks looked like they had done enough to sneak away with the win but the Cheetahs had other ideas in mind. They would win a line out deep in Sharks territory before slowly mauling it to the line to make the scores 11-7.

In Kampala, Dimension Data Rwenzori started their 2012 campaign with a 43-31 win over the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes, Rwenzori who led 33-10 at the half had to hold off a spirited second half performance from the Buffaloes to secure this victory.

In Mombasa the Coastal Bulls had taken the early lead through a penalty before the Lions crawled back through tries from Dan Sikuta, Mike Omondi, Dennis Ombachi among others to win the game 45-6.

The second game at the RFUEA saw defending champions UAP Rhinos start their title defence with a commanding 46-9 win over KCB Victoria. It was the visitors who started off on the front foot, pinning the Rhinos inside their 22 in the early exchanges. The Rhinos would however find their footing and immediately take the lead via a Dennis Muhanji try, Eden Agero successfully converting it to make the scores 7-0 to the Rhinos.

The hosts now with the momentum would win a penalty which Agero drove just wide, they would continue to pile the pressure on their visitors winning another penalty this time Agero making no mistake to make the score 10-0.The Victoria would try to turn the tide winning a penalty which teenager Philip Wokorach slotted in to make the scores 10-3.

The Rhinos would further stretch their lead Leslie Libasia doing great to brush off a couple of tackles before offloading to Brian Nyikuli who grounded the ball to make 17-3, Agero with the conversion. The Rhinos would further stretch their lead before the half time whistle with a try from Edwin Makori who grounded the ball after a Rhino’s maul, Agero taking the scores to 24-3 at the half time break.

The Rhinos would pick up from where they left off in the first half, Brian Nyikuli scoring his second of the day and the Rhinos’ 4th, to make the scores 29-3. Dennis Abenga would cement the Rhinos dominance with a try on 60 minutes to take the scores to 34-3 before the Victoria scored from two penalties by Wokorach making it 34-9. Rhinos duo of Calvin Otieno and Chris Oduor would put the match beyond doubt with a try each, Ian Chewaini converting one of the tries to take the scores to 46-9 at the final whistle.

Match Day 1 Collated Results:

SDV Transami Cheetahs 11 Nguvu Sharks 7

Dimension Data Rwenzori 43 Mumias Sugar Buffaloes 31

Coastal Bulls 6 Lions 45

UAP Rhinos 46 KCB Victoria 9