Jinja Hippos edge KOBs 27-22 in nail-biter to book final spot

Nile Special Rugby Premiership
Results
Semifinal playoff result
KOBs 22 Hippos 27 (Hippos win 49-47 on aggregat)

The Jinja Hippos have upset the KCB KOBs to advance to the final of the Nile Special Rugby Premiership after a 27-22 victory at Legends on Friday evening.

The Hippos came to Legends looking to overturn a three points deficit from the first leg that had ended 25-22 in favour of KOBs.

They were able to achieve that in the first 15 minutes of the tie with some spirited attacks as they pushed the hosts back to land the early blow through Aziz Bagalana's opening try that was converted by Yassin Wasswa to set the visitors on a good course.

Not long after, the Hippos added a penalty to take their lead to 10-0. The hosts were barely at the races but they got something when Ian Munyani pulled one back with a try that was converted by Josiah Ssempeke to give the match a semblance of competitiveness. Wasswa added another penalty to take the score to 13-7 at the break.

Perhaps the second half belonged to KOBs who made strides to close the gap but that was after Hippos added two more penalties to take the score to 19-7.

The two teams went to work and KOBs with less than 20 minutes to go found a try courtesy of Mark Osuna. Ssempeke missed his conversion but scored a penalty a few minutes later.

The Hippos were relentless as they put another three points on board taking the score to 15-22. But KOBs were awarded a penalty try which put the teams on even grounds 22-22 and the big test came with five minutes to go as Hippos were a man down as well.

 Hippos with a man less pushed into KOBs territory and called for the scrum. They tried a few times and success came through Bagalana who scored the try that ended the match and pushed KOBs out of the competition .

“It was an absolutely terrible experience because Hippos came out and threw the kitchen sink at us. It is not the result we envisioned. We know there are still tournaments to come,” said Captain Derrick Tukwasibwe .

They blamed the lack of clinical finishing for the result but the Hippos were just much more sharper.

“It has been a long time coming. The boys have worked hard, last year they fell short of this year they showed character,” stated Hippos coach Edmond Quaresma.

His team was up for the scrum and performed like they meant it. They now await the winner of the Heathens against Pirates match which takes place tomorrow at Kings Park.