2 weeks to the African World Cup 7's qualifiers

The Lady Cranes had their second trials this weekend with head coach David Mutaka, assistant coach Robert Sseguya and the director of Uganda rugby, David Dobela looking to select the final 12 woman team for the IRB African World Cup qualifiers on the 20th and 21st September 2008 in Kampala, Uganda. 9 teams have confirmed their participation including top seeds South Africa, and last year's CAR semifinalists Kenya and Tunisia. Other countries that will take part are Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mutaka will most likely pick his Lady Cranes squad from the following.

Forwards: Christine Kizito, *Josephine Namayega, Winnie Atyang, *Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi, *Dorothy Nekesa, Stella Bakole (Thunderbirds), *Aliya Adania (Rangers), *Fortunate Irankunda, *Brenda Kayiyi ( Black Panthers)

Backs: *Prossy Nakakande, Helen Buteme (Black Panthers), Charlotte Mudoola, *Mary Kyoita (Rangers), Asha Ssonko, Harriet Kayonjo, Sauda Adiru (Thunderbirds)

Mutaka will miss the services of Joan Andika (Rangers) on the wing as she picked up an injury in the first trials that will rule her out for the next 3 months.


*uncapped for 7's



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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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Ugandan and Kenyan squads for Elgon Cup return leg

Lady Cranes travel to Nairobi today for the return leg of the Elgon Cup that will be on August 16, 2008 at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground. Lady Cranes won the first encounter 18 -07 in May and have an 11 point difference. Ugandan coach Sam Ahamya has made just 2 changes to his squad: Harriet Kayonjo gets back into the squad to replace Hadija Namuyanja while Alice Nankyonyi makes room for Aliya Adania to earn her first cap.

The Lady Cranes’ squad

Forwards
Warry Nambirige (Rangers)
*Aliya Adania (Rangers)
Brenda Kayiyi (Black Panthers)
Fortunate Irankunda (Black Panthers)
Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi (Thunderbirds)
Ann Tumwine (Thunderbirds)
Christine Kizito – captain (Thunderbirds)
Dorothy Nekesa (Thunderbirds)
Stella Bakole (Thunderbirds)
Stella Kyalikunda (Thunderbirds)
Evelyn Aweku (Thunderbirds)
Josephine Namayega (Thunderbirds)
Winnie Atiang (Thunderbirds)

Backs
Prossy Nakakande (Black Panthers)
Helen Buteme (Black Panthers)
Charlotte Mudoola (Rangers)
Joan Andika (Rangers)
Asha Ssonko – vice captain (Thunderbirds)
Sauda Adiru (Thunderbirds)
Rachel Kakaire (Thunderbirds)
Joan Namuyomba (Thunderbirds)
Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds)

Head Coach: Sam Ahamya
Assistant Coach: Ramsey Olinga
Team Manager: Jackie Kigozi
Team Doctor: Connie Olwit

Kenyan coach Sammy Kemmey has also made a few changes to his side as he loses the services of Anita Omondi through injury but Rebecca Kerubo gets the nod and will earn her first cap for Kenya. This time round Kemmey has paid special attention to the lineouts, a department in which Uganda dominated and has instructed his kickers to go for territory to relieve pressure as much as possible.

The Kenyan squad

Forwards
Emily Achieng (Mwamba Invaders)
Camilyne Awuor (Mwamba Invaders)
Mary Atieno (Mwamba Invaders)
Angela Olum (Mwamba Invaders)
Millicent Opalla (Mwamba Invaders)
Aberdeen Shikhoyi (Mwamba Invaders)
Philadelphia Olando (Mwamba Invaders)
Agnes Wambui (Mwamba Invaders)
Yvonne Makwali (Mwamba Invaders)
Adelaide Nasambu (Rovers)
Stacy Awuor (Vivi Girls)
Janet Midecha (Vivi Girls)

Backs
Mary Musieka (Mwamba Invaders)
Doreen Remour (Mwamba Invaders)
Nereah Awino (Mwamba Invaders)
Celestine Navalayo (captain) (Mwamba Invaders)
*Rebecca Kerubo (Mwamba Invaders)
Irene Namayi (Rovers)
Judy Agengo (Rovers)
Rachael Adhiambo (Rovers)
Robina Wambui (Vivi Girls)
Kezia Awuor (Vivi Girls)

Coach: Sammy Kemmey
Team manager: Mike Mwanja
Team Physiotherapist: Gerald Omondi

* denotes first cap


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Elgon Cup return leg

The Lady Cranes 15 aside team is this week finalising its preparations for the return leg of the Elgon Cup scheduled for 16th August in Nairobi, Kenya. Lady Cranes won the Kampala fixture 18 - 07 and will be looking to win away from home although they will have to counter the vocal Kenyan fans. Lady Cranes narrowly beat the Kenyans 03 -00 in 2006 in Nairobi.

I have not yet got information on the final 15's squad but will post it as soon as I get it.


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Black Panthers top 7's series, South Africa cancel 7's tournament

Black Panthers topped the UWRA women's 7's series after winning the last tournament on July 19th. They were crowned the women's 7's champions with Thunderbirds settling for second place. Rangers finished the 3 team series in third position.

Meanwhile, it is bad news again for David Mutaka and the Lady Cranes 7's team as South Africa has cancelled the international 7's tournament that was scheduled to take place from 7th to 9th August. England, Australia and USA were among the teams that had confirmed their participation and Uganda was hoping to use the tournament to gauge themselves.

In other news, Sam Ahamya is taking the 15 aside team through their drills in preparation for the return leg of the Elgon Cup that will be held in Nairobi on August 16th. South African, Eugenia Daniels, will be the centre referee.


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UWRA 7's series

As the UWRA 7's series draws to a close, Black Panthers are the surprise leaders after winning the last 2 tournaments. Thunderbirds are closely behind and Rangers is a distant third.

The UWRA 7's tournaments have been a revelation with previously unknown players such as Brenda Kayiyi (Black Panthers), Prossy Nakakande (Black Panthers), Mary Kyoita (Rangers), Aliya Adania (Rangers) and 15 year old sensation Regina Athieno (Black Panthers) making their mark on the women's game.


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South Africa 7's and Elgon Cup

Although the names have not yet been officially released, a squad of 20 players are undergoing fitness drills under Doctor Arthur Kwizera. David Mutaka is preparing his squad for the international 7's tournament that will be held in South Africa next month. England, USA and Australia are some of the top teams from outside of Africa that the Ugandan ladies will face. The tournament will be an important build up for the Lady Cranes before the World Cup qualifiers where they shall battle it out with South Africa, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe for one of the two slots alloted to Africa.

The 15 aside national team is also training under Sam Ahamya and Ramsey Olinga for the return leg of the Elgon Cup that will held on 16th August in Nairobi. Ahamya is working on strengthening his squad at the breakdowns as the Kenyans were a notch superior in that aspect of the game.

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