Elgon Wolves nearly forfeited their Uganda Rugby Premiership Round 6 away match against Rhinos.
The Bamasaaba were low on funds to facilitate their 226-kilometre-trip from Mbale to Kampala. Coach-player Hamisi Katumba told Kawowo Sports the club found a local taxi driver who offered to transport them on credit. But the taxi could only ferry sixteen passengers.
So they made the trip with just one substitute. No coach. No physiotherapist. No team manager. Just the players.
”It has really affected us. Because our starters are not here. They could not manage to travel because they stay at a very far distance, we have to put in transport to come to Mbale,” Katumba said.
To make the already difficult matters worse, they arrived at Legends Rugby Grounds just before kickoff at 2 p.m. The team did not have time to warm up and prepare adequately for their match.
It was always going to be a difficult outing at Legends Rugby Club.
And Rhinos were ruthless. Despite Elgon Wolves’ valiant efforts, Rhinos beat them by 55-10 points.
Rhinos ran in eight tries, including a hat trick by captain Emmanuel Kiyaga who received the Man of the Match award.
But coach Martial Tchumkam was remained troubled by his charges’ slow start for the second successive match.
”When they are big games, we show up. Small game, we tend to feel comfortable. That’s something we are trying to address in the psychological part of it. I’m not going to underlook the Wolves. They have some brilliancy, some brilliant individual players that are really good for the game of rugby. But at the same time, for us as Rhinos, we need to stop having a team we believe that we can win easily,” Tchumkam said.
The huge bonus point victory lifted Rhinos into the top four reserved zone of positions on the table.
Benjamin Miguel scored Elgon Wolves’ lone try and Katumba added a conversion and penalty. Unfortunately, Elgon Wolves sank deeper at the bottom of the table.
Full Round Six Results:
- Rhinos 52-10 Elgon Wolves
- Jinja Hippos 38-22 Platinum Credit Heathens
- KCB KOBs 30-28 Stanbic Black Pirates
- Plascon Mongers 35-12 Kampani Eagles
- Walukuba Barbarians 41-11 Warriors
- Toyota Buffaloes 21-21 Victoria Sharks
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