Kenya Rugby Legends by Nondies trounced their Ugandan counterparts 26-15 on Saturday evening at Kings Park Arena. The match was the first leg of this year’s edition of the Veteran’s Elgon Cup in Kenya.
It was a legends affair as the Uganda Rugby Union’s Chief Technical Officer Ramsey Olinga was the centre referee.
Kenya started in high gear with the mercurial Lavin Asego showing the crowd he still had it as he converted a penalty right in front of the posts.
Uganda then levelled through the boot of former 7s and 15s international Kevin Makmot. Makmot penalized the Kenyans for side entry in the rucks.
A shoulder injury to former World 7s series top try-scorer Collin Injera saw the introduction of Peter Tyrell. He injected fluidity into the former Simbas’ attack, which ended with captain Eddie Omondi beating Victor Wadia in the corner. Asego was once again flawless with the extras. Injera would later shake off the injury and return to action.
Lavin Asego maintained the same gear in the second half, dispatching off a 30-meter penalty after the Ugandan legends were penalized for not releasing in the tackle. This stretched Kenya’s lead to 10.
However, Uganda got back into the game as Paul Kabazi scored in the corner off a back-in by Kyadondo Rugby Club Chairman Brian Tabaruka.
The Ugandan excitement didn’t last as Victor Mose sold a dummy to Michael Wokorach before running 50 meters to score a try for the commercials.
Former Kenya 7s captain Humphrey Kayange committed his defender before setting up his younger brother Collins Injera for a sports day race against Alfred Karekaho on the wing. As you would guess, this had only one result, a centre post try. Asego was flawless with the extras.
Uganda’s most capped player, Michael Wokorach, closed the game after a much-deserved try after another brilliant period of attacking phases by the former Cranes, setting up a 15-26 full-time score.
Kenya’s Legends by Nondies will host the Ugandan Legends for the second leg with an upper hand in defending their trophy. This win maintained their unbeaten record in Kampala. In their tour of Kampala last year, the Legends by Nondies thrashed Uganda’s veterans 38:06 at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds.
The Ugandan Veterans lost their Kenya 31-12 tour at RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
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