Pirates match on as Kigezi Queens surprise Kitgum Queens
Pirates made a commanding statement with a 33-7 win over Buffaloes in their third and last round of the day before rain disrupted the evening, leaving four games unplayed in the last round.
A Rhinos player dives for a try against Mbarara Titans
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
Uganda Rugby 7s defending champions Stanbic Black Pirates made it three wins out of three on day one of the National Rugby 7s in Mbarara on Saturday, keeping their hopes of retaining the title alive.
Pirates made a commanding statement with a 33-7 win over Buffaloes in their third and last round of the day before rain disrupted the evening, leaving four games unplayed in the last round.
They will be watching as current table leaders Platinum Credit Heathens play their last match today against Elgon Wolves, with the race for the title going down to the wire.
The Heathens vs. Elgon match is one of the four round 3 games, including Kobs vs. Walukuba, Warriors vs. Buddu Bears, and Mongers vs. MUSTangs, that were postponed due to the heavy downpour in Mbarara.
The Heathens had also registered two wins in their two outings, beating hosts MUSTangs 66-0 before dispatching rivals Mongers 19-14.
Kobs, another title contender, also registered two wins on the day, beating Warriors 25-0 and Buddu Bears 57-0. Their last game against Walukuba will also be played tomorrow morning.
The women’s competition saw Kigezi Queens pull off one of the biggest shocks by beating premier core side Kitgum Queens 10-5, while Buddu Cuppaz forced a 15-15 draw against another fancied side, Nile Rapids.
The women will play the quarter-finals tomorrow, Sunday, where Nile Rapids will take on Thunderbirds, She Wolves will play against Buddu Cuppaz, Kitgum Queens will face Avengers, and Black Pearls will meet Kigezi Queens.
Heathens fans cheer on the team
The Mbarara circuit is the second last of the competition and will determine the table standings. Currently, Heathens lead with 95 points, followed by defending champions Pirates with 86, and Walukuba Barbarians in third with 71. Avengers lead the women’s category with 102 points, with defending champions Black Pearls trailing in second with 96, and Thunderbirds closely following with 92.
Men round one day one
Pirates 33 Rams 0
Buffaloes 42 Kigezi 0
Hippos 34 Titans 0
Rhinos 12 Impis 7
Kobs 38 25 Warriors 0
Walukuba 33 Buddu 0
Mongers 27 Elgon 17
Heathens 66 MUSTangs 0
Round 2
Pirates 45 Kigezi 0
Buffaloes 38 Rams 12
Rhinos 29 Titans 0
Kobs 57 Buddu 0
Walukuba 33 Worriers 12
Elgon 54 MUSTangs 0
Heathens 19 Mongers 14
Hippos 36 Kobs 0
Round 3
Pirates 33 Buffaloes 7
Rams 29 Kigezi 7
Women round 1
She Wolves 19 Nile Rapids 10
Thurnderbirds 17 Buddu 12
Black Pearls 32 Kitgum 10
Avengers 32 Kigezi 0
Round 2
Buddu 15 Nile 15
She Wolves 23 Thunderbirds 15
Kigezi 10 Kitgum 5
Avengers 15 Black Pearls 14
Women quarter finals-Sunday
Nile Rpids Vs Thurnderbirds
She Wolves Vs Buddu Cuppaz
Kitgum Queens Vs Avengers
Black Pearls Vs Kigezi Queens