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The UAP Rhinos re-wrote the history books, beating Dimension Data Rwenzori 25-14 to lift their sixth overall Bamburi Rugby Super Series title in an entertaining final played before a capacity crowd at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds on Saturday 2 June 2012.

The first Ugandan side to reach the championship match, Rwenzori were quick off the blocks, taking the game to the Rhinos, dominating the early exchanges. They were particularly rampant in the rucks and mauls, forcing consecutive infringements from the defending champions that were penalized by center referee Andre Karani. Anthony Kinene’s first goal attempt from a penalty would bounce off the sticks, his second would sail just wide as the match remained scoreless.

The Rhinos would surge forward as they kept possession for the first time in this encounter, winning a penalty on the Rwenzori 22′. Eden Agero, going for goal, struck his kick between the sticks, giving the Rhinos a 3-0 lead. This would give them the attacking impetus, but they failed to translate this possession into points, twice let down by non delivery from Agero to Leslie Libasia and a Nick Baraza fumble with acres of space in front of him.

With Rwenzori back in possession, center Paul Kabazi would break from his 25′, carrying the ball 40 meters before offloading to his support player, Edmund Tumusiime who released Justin Kimono with a pass that saw the 2011 BRSS top try scorer ground the ball under the posts, Kinene converting to give Rwenzori a 7-3 lead.They kept pressing forward, winning a line out ball and mauling on the Rhinos 22′ but making nothing of this attack as the Rhinos defended well.

Rhinos would come back strongly, entering Rwenzori territory after Agero booted the ball into touch from a penalty inside their own half. Retaining possession from the line out, Rhinos would maul on the Rwenzori 5′, their forward charge halted when referee Karani called an infringement, awarding Rhinos the put in for the ensuing scrummage. Maintaining their forward push, backrow man Tony Mutai grounded the ball with Agero converting to see the Rhinos retake the lead, the electronic score board reading 10-7 in their favor.

The rest of this half would be a close contest, the most significant incident happening minutes to half time when Tumusiime’s drop goal attempt for Rwenzori sailed wide with the buzzer sounding for half time.

Rwenzori started the second half with plenty of zeal, retaining possession in the opening minutes. Wing Felix Lubega would find himself in possession, beating the gain line, brushing off three tackles before being stopped agonizingly short of the Rhinos try line. They maintained this momentum but Marvin Odong was held up on the try line minutes later. Their pressure eventually paid off when Timothy Dumba grounded the ball, Kinene’s conversion taking the scores to 14-10.They would miss an opportunity to stretch this lead when Odong’ failed to gather a loose ball with his path to the try line clear.

The Rhinos finally sprung into life, the introduction of Wilson Kopondo for Joseph Kangethe paying dividends, when first, Dennis Muhanji went over the try line, his unconverted try awarded courtesy of a TMO decision taking the scores to 15-14 before Kopondo went over, his tournament leading fifth try giving Rhinos a 20-14.

Rwenzori winger Kimono would have difficulty fielding Agero’s territorial kick with Rhinos center Nick Baraza showing the presence of mind to chase what seemed to be a worthless cause, gathering the ball from Kimono’s fumble, playing in his support player Muhanji who released Victor Sudi who touched down in the corner, his unconverted try all but securing the win for the Rhinos.

The buzzer would sound minutes later with Andre Karani blowing his whistle to signal full time. The Rhinos had retained the title, their sixth overall title and their fourth in a row since 2009.

Indeed, the record books had been re-written,the Rhinos become the first team to win the title four times in a row. For Victor Sudi, it was a personal milestone too, the most decorated player in BRSS history now with seven titles to his name.

Speaking after the win, Rhinos captain Joel Ng’ang’a paid tribute to his charges, saying, “It was a team effort. We kept our heads up, we sayed focused and fought to the very end.”

It was further joy for the Rhinos as Wilson Kopondo,who emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, also came out as the tournament’s top try scorer, ending the event with five tries, one ahead of Steve Ogwete, Marvin Odong (Rwenzori), Vincent Mose (Cheetahs) and Bram Shikanda (Buffaloes).

Rwenzori captain Solomon Mawanda rued his side’s lost chances saying, “We had the game, we lost it in the break downs, and these are lessons learnt. We congratulate the Rhinos, they were worthy winners in what was a very good game of rugby.”

The third place playoff match saw the SDV Transami Cheetahs rally from 12-18 to register a 22-18 win over the Lions. The Lions went ahead through an unconverted Curtis Lilako try before Tony Nyandigisi levelled for the Cheetahs. Ian Indimuli and Fabian Olando added a try and penalty each before Ronnie Mwenesi scored against his former side, Moses Kola converting to take the scores to 13-12 at half time. Peter Mutai would stretch the Lions lead with a second half try before Mwenesi and Vincent Mose’s tries sealed the win for the Cheetahs.

Lions player Olando was crowned the Bamburi Rugby Super Series top points scorer, ending the tournament with 46 points, nine ahead of second placed Mose on 37 points.

Bamburi Rugby Super Series
Saturday 2 June 2012
Match Day Five Collated Results and related statistics

Final: UAP Rhinos 25 Dimension Data Rwenzori 14
3rd Place Playoff: SDV Transami Cheetahs 22 Lions 14

Man of the Series: Wilson Kopondo (UAP Rhinos)

Top Points Scorer: Fabian Olando (Lions)

Top Try Scorer: Wilson Kopondo (UAP Rhinos) 5 tries

Previous BRSS Final Results

2003: Rhinos 27 Cheetahs 11
2004: Cheetahs 32 Lions 22
2005: Buffaloes 27 Lions 26
2006: Cheetahs 29 Lions 27
2007: Rhinos 28 Lions 20
2008: Lions 33 Rhinos 9
2009: Rhinos 30 Buffaloes 13
2010: Rhinos 25 Cheetahs 5
2011: Rhinos 20 Cheetahs 15
2012: Rhinos 25 Rwenzori 14

It is close to nineteen hours to the big one and the two protagonists in Saturday’s championship match at the 10th Bamburi Rugby Super Series have named their final twenty two.

Defending champions UAP Rhinos make four changes to the side that started their 20-19 semi final win against the Lions, bringing on Joseph Kang’ethe, Edwin Achayo, Dennis Muhanji and Chris Oduor for joint tournament top try scorer Wilson Kopondo, Martin Muita, Meshack Ochieng and Ian Chewaini.

The Rhinos will look to the experience of captain Joel Ng’ang’a, who has been part of all their five previous championship winning teams in 2003,2007,2009,2010 and 2011 and Victor Sudi, gunning for his fifth crown in a Rhinos jersey and seventh overall Bamburi Rugby Super Series crown.

Dimension Data Rwenzori, the first Ugandan side to reach the final will be without the dependable Romano Ogwal, out with a finger injury but have still included Marvin Odong and Steve Ogwete who have landed eight tries between them during this campaign.

Rwenzori will pin their hopes on Edmund Tumusiime, Tony Kinene and Marvin Odong as they go in pursuit of a maiden Bamburi Rugby Super Series crown.

Rhinos: 15. Chris Oduor, 14.Eric Mochache, 13.Dennis Muhanji, 12.Nick Baraza, 11.Victor Sudi, 10.Eden Agero, 9.Edwin Achayo, 8.Leslie Libasia,7.Brian Nyikuli, 6.Tony Mutai, 5.Joseph Kangethe, 4.Edwin Makori, 3.James Kangethe, 2.Dennis Abenga, 1.Joel Ng’ang’a Reserves: 22.Meshack Ochieng, 21.Martin Muita, 20.Bernard Nyambok, 19.Nick Lang’o, 18.Wilson Kopondo, 17.Dennis Karani, 16.Sammy Warui

Rwenzori:15. Anthony Kinene, 14.Justine Kimono, 13.Andrew Baraza, 12.Paul Kabazi, 11.Felix Lubega, 10.Edmund Tumusiime, 9.Davis Kiwalabye, 8.Marvin Odong’, 7.Steve Ogwete, 6.Timothy Dumba, 5.Joel Anguyo, 4.Victor Wadia, 3.Martial Tchumkam, 2.Solomon Mawanda, 1. Brian Odong Reserves: 22. Dennis Etuket, 21.Oscar Kalyango, 20. Ambrose Kamanyire, 19.Ronald Musajjaguranyago, 18.Timothy Kabonero, 17.Oscar Echulu, 16.James Kimono

This match kicks off at 4.00pm and will be aired on Supersport 9 East

Saturday 2 June 2012 sees the curtains fall on the 10th edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series. Even before center referee Andre Karani blows his whistle at 4.00pm to kick off the championship match between defending champions UAP Rhinos and first time finalists Dimension Data Rwenzori, history has already been re-written. The UAP Rhinos, already the most successful side in the tournament’s history,continue to set standards, this time round, qualifying for a sixth straight final since 2007. They head into Saturday’s match looking to claim a sixth overall title, and a fourth in succession since 2009.

As mentioned earlier, history has already been re-written, and Uganda’s Dimension Data Rwenzori are part of the equation. They played against the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes in the first ever Bamburi Rugby Super Series match to be televised live from Uganda, they also played in the first ever tournament semi final to be played outside Nairobi and are the first ever Ugandan side to reach the Bamburi Rugby Super Series championship match, popularly refered to as the final. Can they become the first Ugandan side to lift the title?

Well, Rwenzori are taking nothing to chance, opting to take the 45 minute flight to Nairobi, foregoing the +10 hour bus ride from Kampala as they seek to be fresh, avoid the effects of bus lag (if there exists such a term) and take the fight to the defending champions Rhinos. They will rely on among others, Anthony Kinene, Steve Ogwete, Marvin Odongo to lead their quest for glory.

Their opponents on Saturday, the UAP Rhinos are certainly no slouches. They have shown their pedigree by wriggling out of tricky situations to carry the day, case in point, the 25-18 match day three win over the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes where they threw away a 10-0 lead, trailed 15-18 before regrouping to win that fixture 25-18. They would again show their grit when, after racing to a 15-5 lead against the Lions in last weekend’s semi final in Nairobi, they found themselves trailing 15-19 with precious little left on the ticker before Wilson Kopondo’s try and their steely resolve saw them knick that match 20-19, securing passage to the final.

This match is no doubt bound to be filled with all the thrills and spills worthy of a final. There is so much to play for other than the title. For the Rhinos, it is an opportunity to avenge the 17-15 loss to Rwenzori on match day two in Kampala while the Ugandans be out to prove that their win against the Rhinos was not a fluke.

This match will be preceded by the third and fourth playoff match between the Lions and SDV Transami Cheetahs from 1.30pm.

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