Kenyan women get first win against Ugandans

The Ugandan and Kenyan women faced each other for the return leg of the Elgon Cup in sunny conditions at the RFUEA grounds on Ngong Road in Nairobi. The Kenyans kicked off to the Ugandans and followed the kick through to put pressure on the Lady Cranes. The pressure paid off as the Kenyans were eventually rewarded with a penalty after a high tackle by Helen Buteme. They opted to go for posts and Angela Olum kicked in 3 points to take an early lead in the 15th minute. Buoyed on by their early lead the Kenyan women kept their counterparts pinned in their 22 and in the 30th minute a mis – kick by Asha Ssonko into the opponents hands resulted in the ball going out wide to Kenyan winger, Irene Namayi who touched down to take the score up to 08 – 00. Surprisingly, Angela Olum missed the conversion and the opportunity to take their points up to 10.

The Ugandan pack was impressive and turned over ball in the scrums and dominated the lineouts through Stella Bakole and Ann Tumwine. Stella won all her lineouts and went one better by stealing a couple of the opposition line outs as well. The lanky number 8 topped off her sterling aerial performance with an inspired game at the base of the scrum and combined well with the scrumhalf Charlotte Mudoola who put in an excellent performance throughout the game. However, the Ugandan back line was flat and static meaning the fly half, Helen, had no platform from which to operate and was forced to kick away vital possession that the forwards had worked had to retain. The Kenyan backline on the other hand was well coordinated with fly half Doreen Remour working in tandem with her centres both in defence and attack. Just before half time, the Ugandans were awarded a penalty in front of the posts for an infringement in the ruck but Rachel Kakaire fluffed the easy kick meaning the Ugandans went into the halftime break trailing 08 – 00.

The second half saw the Ugandans piling pressure on the Kenyans through the forwards and they were rewarded with a penalty on the 5 minutes into the half. A quickly taken penalty saw Joan Andika scoring for Uganda. Rachel converted to bring the Ugandans one point behind the Kenyans. Kicks deep into Kenyan territory by Helen kept the Kenyans on the back foot and great retention of possession by the Ugandan forwards resulted in the Ugandans being awarded 2 penalties in front of the posts in the 65th and 75th minutes that Rachel slotted in to take the Ugandans ahead by 5 points. The match seesawed either way with neither team taking advantage of possession. In the last minute when the game was all but won for the Ugandans, the Kenyans turned over the ball after a pick and drive move off the scrum by the Ugandans and swung the ball out to the Irene Namayi on the wing who scored to level the game at 13 - 13. Angela Olum made no mistake this time and nailed the conversion to give the Kenyans their first win.

Irene Awino, standing in for the injured Anita Omondi at fullback for Kenya had an impressive game and was easily the player of the match.

The Ugandans however won the Elgon cup for 2008 as they had a higher aggregate, 31 – 22 (18 – 07 first leg, 13 – 15 second leg).

Attention now turns to the 7’s world cup qualifiers next month.

Uganda:
1 Fortunate Irankunda (Josephine Namayega)
2 Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi
3 Warry Nambirige
4 Christine Kizito (captain)
5 Anne Tumwine
6 Brenda Kayiyi (Winnie Atyang)
7 Dorothy Nekesa (Stella Kyalikunda)
8 Stella Bakole
9 Charlotte Mudoola
10 Helen Buteme
11 Sauda Adiru
12 Joan Namuyomba
13 Asha Ssonko (vice captain) (Harriet Kayonjo)
14 Joan Andika (Prossy Nakakande)
15 Rachel Kakaire
Replacements:
16 Stella Kyalikunda
17 Josephine Namayega
18 Winnie Atyang
19 Aliya Adania
20 Prossy Nakakande
21 Harriet Kayonjo
Officials: Sam Ahamya (coach)
Jackie Kigozi (tean manager)
Connie Olwit (team doctor)

Tries: Joan Andika (1)
Conversions: Rachel Kakaire (1)
Penalties: Rachel Kakaire (2)

Kenya:
1 Camylyn Awuor
2 Stacy Awuor
3 Agnes King’ori (Emily Achieng)
4 Millicent Opala
5 Rachael Adhiambo
6 Angela Olum
7 Adelaide Nasambu
8 Mary Otieno (Philadelphia Olando)
9 Mary Musieka
10 Doreen Remour
11 Rebecca Kerubo
12 Nereah Awino
13 Celestine Navalayo (captain)
14 Irene Namayi
15 Irene Awino
Replacements:
16 Rubina Wambui
17 Janet Midecha
18 Abadeen Shikhoyi
19 Kezia Adhiambo
20 Emily Achieng
21 Philadelphia Olando
22 Judy Ageng’o.
Officials: Sammy Kemmey (coach)
Josephine Were (team manager)
Gerald Omondi (physiotherapist)

Tries: Irene Namayi (2)
Conversions: Angela Olum (1)
Penalties: Angela Olum (1)
Yellow cards: Millicent Opalla



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