Susan Cart lauds women's rugby in Uganda

Susan Carty, the IRB women's development manager in charge of women is impressed with the development of women rugby in Uganda. She also appealed to the Minister of Sports, Charles Bakkabulindi, to ensure that the government of Uganda gives more support to women's rugby.

Susan Carty next travels to South Africa for a IRB women's rugby workshop. She will be accompanied by UWRA chairperson, Irene Namapii.

Source: New Vision http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/30/710272

IRB's Susan Carty to visit Uganda

IRB's women's development manager, Susan Carty, will visit Uganda this week to meet with the Uganda Women's Rugby Association executive members. She will National Council of Sports (NCS) secretary Jasper Aligawesa, Uganda Olympic committee (UOC) president Roger Ddungu and sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi before she leaves for an IRB workshop in South Africa. National rugby development manager Ramsey Olinga confirmed that Carty is to assess the level at which IRB can support Uganda.

Source: New Vision http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/30/710104

Women's 2010 season kicks off

The UWRA season started with a 10 aside tournament in January. Black Panthers started off their season with a 7 - 5 win against Thunderbirds.

In the first 15 aside encounter played at Kampala Rugby Club, Thunderbirds scored early and looked to have wrapped up the game but Black Panthers forced a draw in the dying minutes of the game.

Thunderbirds last chance to claim back their mantle from Black Panthers

After a period of inactivity, there is women's rugby on display this weekend prior to the Super Cup contest between G4S Pirates and MTN Heathens. In what will be the last game of the season, Black Panthers take on Thunderbirds and hope to end the year with the same form that saw them dominating in the latter part of the year. Thunderbirds on the other hand will attempt to put some pride back into their name and show the class of rugby that at one point kept them at the helm of women's club rugby in East Africa. With seasoned players such as Christine Kizito, Harriet Kayonjo, Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi and Joan Namuyomba within their ranks Thunderbirds have experience on their side. However, the youthful Black Panthers team has in the past shown scant respect for experience and spurred by Brenda Kayiyi and Prossy Nakakande has relied on pace and daring to overcome the Thunderbirds.

Come Saturday, it promises to be the usual bone crunching affair between the two sides.

Black Panthers win Uganda Cup final curtain raiser

With the CAR 7s cancelled and little possibility of any other international competitions, UWRA is keeping the Ugandan women busy with additional domestic fixtures. The women's season has come to an end with Thunderbirds taking the UWRA 7's and UWRA 10's titles while Black Panthers surprisingly took the UWRA 15's title.

Brian Power's, Thunderbirds and Helen Buteme's, Black Panthers locked horns again over the weekend when they curtainraised the men's Uganda Cup final. Thunderbirds had the heavier and pack and regularly turned over the ball at the Black Panthers put in at the scrum. For the first 15 minutes Thunderbirds dominated play using their forwards while the Black Panthers defended ferociously and kept the Thunderbirds out of their 22. A clever turn over in the tackle by Black Panthers centre, Brenda Kayiyi, and the ball shifting out to speedster Emma Oroma who sprinted 40 metres to cross the try line. The conversion was missed but it breathed life into the Black Panthers players who, despite missing several chances to increase their lead, entertained the crowd with their brand of free flowing rugby. The game ended at 5 - 0 to Black Panthers.

Meanwhile, Helen Buteme, starred for Pirates 2 in the men's Uganda cup shield semi final on September 19th. Pirates 2 signed Buteme for the Uganda Cup and started her on the wing against Summerkamp where she played for 70 minutes of the game before being substituted. Buteme was not fielded for the final where Pirates 2 lost 8-6 to Boks.

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CAR 7's possibly cancelled

Word out on the grapevine is that the biggest women's 7's tournament in Africa will not take place this year as the Uganda Rugby Union has been unable to get sponsors for the event. National teams from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Tunisia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda have taken part in previous editions. This year it was hoped that teams from Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Madagascar, and Morocco would make their debut. I do not yet have the full details but evidently CAR needs to do more for women's rugby in the region. African unions, excepting South Africa and possibly Tunisia, simply do not have the financial muscle to tour the world seeking out competition to improve their standard of rugby. With this trend, I see the gap similarly widening between South Africa and the rest of Africa in women's rugby as it is in men's rugby.

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Lady Cranes win match but lose Elgon Cup

Lady Cranes put up a strong performance to pip the Kenyan team that had humiliated them 38 – 05 in Nairobi two weeks previously. Henry Musoke made only two changes to his squad after losing Dorothy Nekesa and Angela Athieno to injury. Utility back, Charlotte Mudoola came back into the squad at outside centre while hooker, Stella Kyalikunda earned a place on the bench. After a scoreless first half, a penalty try was awarded to Uganda at the beginning of the second half after a Kenyan player pulled back Charlotte Mudoola as she chased a loose ball rolling into the in goal area. Mudoola converted to give the Ugandans a 7 point lead. This lead was narrowed to 2 points when Celestine Navalayo scored 20 minutes later. The Lady Cranes kept the pressure on the Kenyans and were rewarded when Stella Kyalikunda wrapped it up for the Uganda in the last 10 minutes of the game after she dotted down under the posts. Mudoola missed the conversion so the final score remained at 12 – 05. Despite winning the game, Uganda lost the Elgon Cup on aggregate (Uganda 17, Kenya 43).

Several players from both teams stood out but the pick of them all was the Kenyan number 8, Irene Nyakundi, who carried the ball well and turned over the ball at numerous occasions when Uganda was looking dangerous. Her captain, Celestine Navalayo who played at outside centre, also deserves mention for her strong runs. For Uganda, second rowers Hellen Gizamba and her vice captain Evelyn Aweku were outstanding in the lineouts and ball carrying while the entire front row, Warry Nambirige, Christine Kizito and Fortunate Irankunda were instrumental in destabilising the Kenyan scrum. Helen Buteme, at fullback, neutralised the Kenyans kicking game and made several try saving tackles.

Full-time: 12 - 05

Half-time: 0-0

Scorers

Uganda, Tries: Penalty try, Stella Kyalikunda; Conversions: Charlotte Mudoola.

Kenya, Tries: Celestine Navalayo.

Match officials

Referee: Charles Mungoma (Uganda)

Assistant referees: Denis Anguyo and Daniel Alilo (Uganda).

Match Commissioner: Denis Odongkara (Uganda)

Lady Cranes

1. Warry Nambirige - Thunderbirds
2. Fortunate Irankunda - Black Panthers
3. Christine Kizito – Thunderbirds (Stella Kyalikunda)
4. Hellen Gizamba - Black Panthers
5. Evelyn Aweku (vice captain) - Thunderbirds
6. Aalliya Adania - Thunderbirds
7. Claire Anena - Black Panthers
8. Josephine Namayega - Black Panthers
9. Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi - Thunderbirds
10. Harriet Kayonjo - Thunderbirds
11. Prossy Nakakande (captain) - Black Panthers
12. Brenda Kayiyi - Black Panthers
13. Charlotte Mudoola - Rangers
14. Hadijah Namuyanja – Rangers (Beatrice Atim)
15. Helen Buteme - Black Panthers
16. Stella Kyalikunda - Thunderbirds
17. Alice Nankyonyi - Thunderbirds
18. Emma Oroma - Black Panthers
19. Aisha Bahanii - Black Panthers
20. Joan Namuyomba - Thunderbirds
21. Beatrice Atim - Black Panthers
22. Mary Kyoita - Rangers

Coach: Henry Musoke

Assistant coach: Bobby Musinguzi

Team manager: Jackie Kigozi

Team doctor: Priscilla Najjemba

Kenyan team

1. Camilyne Awuor - Mwamba Invaders
2. Mary Otieno - Mwamba Invaders
3. Rebecca Kerubo - Mwamba Invaders (Janet Midecha)
4. Angela Olum - Mwamba Invaders
5. Rachael Adhiambo - Mwamba Invaders
6. Stacy Awuor - Vivi Girls
7. Aberdeen Shikhoyi - Mwamba Invaders
8. Irene Nyakundi - Mwamba Invaders
9. Mary Musieka - Mwamba Invaders (Anita Omondi)
10. Doreen Remour - Mwamba Invaders
11. Philadelphia Olando - Mwamba Invaders
12. Judy Agengo - Mwamba Invaders
13. Celestine Navalayo (Captain) - Mwamba Invaders
14. Robinah Wambui - Vivi Girls
15. Irene Awino - Mwamba Invaders
16. Anita Omondi - Mwamba Invaders
17. Dorcas Ocholi - Mwamba Invaders
18. Esther Njue - - Mwamba Invaders
19. Kezia Adhiambo - Vivi Girls
20. Adelaide Nasambu - Mwamba Invaders
21. Millicent Opalla - Mwamba Invaders
22. Janet Midecha - Vivi Girls

Coach: Sammy Kemmy

Assistant coach: Pritt Nyandatt

Team manager: Yvonne Makwali

Physiotherapist: Gerald Omondi

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