17 August 2009

Needing to win by a nine-point margin and clinch the annual Elgon Cup for the first time since 2006, The Rugby Cranes upstaged Kenya 18-13 in the second leg of this year’s edition at Kyadondo RFC on Sunday but fell agonisingly short.

Kyadondo ground, Kampala, was a sea of sorrow for the mammoth crowd as Kenya built on their 30-22 victory in Nairobi two weeks ago to clinch the regional trophy for the third time in a row.

A try each to Kenyan-born lock Scot Oluoch and flanker Robert Seguya proved to be a drop in the ocean as wing ace Collins Injera touched down twice for the visitors.

“I think we deserved to win the Cup whole because we were the better team over the two legs,” Kenyan coach Mike “Tank” Otieno said after the game.

Kenya players celebrate

Uganda, seeking to end a four-game losing streak, fell behind to Injera’s try after 16 minutes but fullback Vincent failed to convert.

Returning fly-half Chris, in for starter Joel Kimuli, reduced the margin with a 26th-minute penalty before Injera restored the visitors’ advantage with another try three minutes later.

Lubanga’s boots let him down thereafter as he missed a seemingly easy penalty inside the 22. With the Kenyans leading 13-3 at the break, the home dugout introduced lock Ronald Mwisaka, flanker Joel Anguyo and scrum-half Philip Karumuna on resumption for Eric Butiime, Mathias Ochwo and Lubanga, respectively. However, a Biko Adema penalty 10 minutes after the substitutions extended Kenya’s lead. From then on, the hosts took control with Anguyo converting Oluoch’s try on 54 minutes and Kayange was set to the sin bin for a foul challenge as the visitors lost the plot. Seguya capitalised with a brilliant kick and chase to score in the corner on 70 minutes, but Anguyo failed to convert before the latter missed a penalty which would have erased the eight-point deficit in the final minute.

Kenyan women, carrying a 38-5 lead, completed the double despite having earlier lost 0-12 to Uganda.

2009 Elgon Cup results- Men: Uganda 18-13 Kenya; Women: Uganda 12-0 Kenya

Elgon Cup winners: 2004- Kenya; 2005- Not held; 2006- Uganda; 2007- Kenya; 2008- Kenya; 2009- Kenya