Greetings. The Uganda Rugby Premiership returned to play after a 2-week break that involved Easter and the Enterprise Cup semifinal. Pirates had their game cancelled in the morning of kick-off, as Kakira Simbas were unable to travel due to financial constraints. The Men's Premiership went 5 seasons without a walkover and in this year has already recorded to walkovers; Week 6 fixture between Mongers and Warriors (Warriors unable to raise front-row specialists needed to fulfill the fixture) and the Week 8 fixture between Pirates and Kakira Simbas. Last year's relegation playoff first leg between Elgon Wolves and Warriors ended in a walkover to Warriors as the Wolves were penalized for enlisting inelligile players in their match-day squad.
In the games played, KOBs recored the largest winning margin of the day, defeating Warriors 57-07 at 5D Ranch. In the games moved from Kyadondo Rugby Grounds, Heathens defeated Rhinos at Kyambogo, 40-03 whereas Buffaloes defeated Mongers 25-12 at Makerere Rugby Grounds. Michael Amollo scored 4 tries for Heathens, the most tries scored by any player in a game this season. In Jinja, Walukuba hosted a game at the Tata Owen Sports Grounds, in Walukuba West, away from their usual grounds at Abel Dhaira Stadium (former Tobacco Stadium). Despite leading for the majority of the game, Impis snatched victory late, 24-23. Hippos were defeated by Victoria Sharks 31-15 at Ruck Yard Sports.
The Half Centurion
Gift Wokorach is part of a crop of young players that commenced their Premiership careers when the accuracy of the Uganda Rugby matchday records had received a significant improvement [the likes of Yasin Waiswa, Vani Adebua, Calvin Gizamba, Stuart Mwayi, Malcolm Okello, Ivan Bulima, etc]. He has been a first choice kicker for Walukuba for a significant number of their games, and thus has had extra information recorded about his games beyond starting, featuring and try scoring. It is to be noted that the record-keeping in the Premiership is relatively more reliable than in the Uganda Cup, with the latter tournament's match sheets omitting some key information on substitutions and missed goal attempts especially in upcountry games.
In his 50th Premiership appearance, Wokorach's goal kicking was off. He succeeded on only 2 of his 6 attempts; 33.33% despite a career average of 64.47% and season average of 54.29% heading into the game. In other aspects of the game, he made 4 carries, offloading once, and completed 23/24 passes (95.83%). In open play kicking, Wokorach made 10 kicks, with 1 kick yielding a knock on and enabling Walukuba to retain possession; this retention yielded Ivan Bulima's second try of the day and Walukuba's third. Wokorach also made two crucial kick charge downs. Firstly on Darren Aine's clearance attempt in the Impis Half, which kept Impis camped in their own half until Walukuba conceded a penalty. The second charge down was on Garvin Kirabo as he attempted a second drop goal. Kirabo had successfully landed a 50-metre drop goal to narrow the score to a 4-point game. The second attempt was inside the 10-metre line and Wokorach rushed to charge down and maintain Walukuba's margin.
However, it is his last attacking action of the game that doomed Walukuba. After receiving a pass from a Walukuba scrum, Wokorach's clearance kick to exit their half was charged down by Garvin Kirabo who had since moved from fullback to fly-half. Kirabo won the subsequent chase, recovered the ball and powered his way to the try line.
Cranes Chronometer
Possession Origin of Tries
Playoff Permutations
🌟Entering the weekend, Hippos and Rhinos were occupying the 9th and 10th places, and were the only teams in the relegation slots with a realistic chance to make the playoffs. Their bonus-point conceding losses meant they can't exceed the 23 point-ceiling even if they won all their remaining games with a bonus point. Victoria Sharks sits in 6th place with 24 points and thus the teams in 6th and upwards are guaranteed playoff rugby. Pirates, KOBs, Heathens, Mongers and Victoria Sharks joined Buffaloes in playoff contention.
🌟Impis left it late in Jinja, in a game in which they took the lead in the 80th minute after Garvin Kirabo charged down a clearance kick by Gift Wokorach to proceed and score. A draw in Week 9 will guarantee playoff rugby and safety for the team that returned to Premiership Rugby following their 2024 relegation.
🌟Walukuba find themselves in 8th place and likely to face off against the top seed in the quarterfinals for a third consecutive season. With Walukuba on 19 and Hippos on 8 points, if Hippos lose in Week 9 without a bonus point it will guarantee Walukuba's playoff placing as Hippos' new ceiling in their last 2 games will be 18 points.
Chasing History
🌟Rasul Abiriga became the season's first points centurion. Following KOBs' third try (by Emmanuel Ecodu), Abiriga stepped up for his fourth attempt at goal, successfully converting for 10 points on the day and move to 100 for the season. He concluded the day with 22 points, and is the season's top points scorer on 115 points.
🌟Darren Aine slotted 11 points in the Week 8 win against Walukuba to move to 100 points in his first Premiership season [this had been reported in error as 84 points prior to the start of the game, but he begun the day on 89]. A rookie has not surpassed the 100-point mark in the last 5 seasons dating back to 2021. Most Premiership Points by a rookie (player featuring in their first Premiership season):
- 100 - Darren Aine (Impis, 2026)*
- 65 - Humphrey Asiligwa (Victoria Sharks, 2026)*
- 56 - Benjamin Mukisa (Impis, 2024)
- 52 - Frederick Mulindwa (Pirates, 2024)
- 50 - Yasin Waiswa (Hippos, 2022)
- 50 - Benjamin Muwanguzi (KOBs, 2024)
- 45 - Gift Wokorach (Walukuba, 2023)
Ceteris. Paribus.
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