Africa Gold Cup
Kenya 38-22 Uganda
Nirobi, Kenya
Saturday, 07-07-2018
Uganda Rugby Cranes paid a price for a faltering start to Saturday’s match against the Kenya Simbas in Nairobi.
John Duncan’s charges shipped in three tries inside the first twenty minutes of the game and fell 38-22 at RFUEA grounds.
Kenya ran in four tries in the first half and converted three to go into the halftime break with a 28-5 lead.
The Cranes were in sixes and sevens in the first period and the hosts used the advantage to create a big margin at the half.
Kenya’s second try by Davis Chenge spelt out Uganda’s woes in the scrimmages as the home side pushed the Cranes over for a touchdown.
With the score of 28-5 going into the second half, not even the late challenge from the Cranes could stop the Simbas.
PhilipWokorach (2), Michael Wokorach and Ivan Magomu crossed the white chalk for Uganda as the Cranes rain in three tries in the second period.
The late push by the visitors was deflated by Moses Amusala’s last gasp try that was well converted by Darwin Mukidza.
Jacob Ojee, Davies Chenge, Samson Onsomu, Felix Ayange and Moses Amusala all scored for the home side as Darwin Mukidza converted all.
The loss is Uganda’s second straight in this year’s Africa Gold Cup while Kenya registered their third straight win this campaign.
The win for the Kenya Simbas also handed them this year’s Elgon Cup with a 72-38 aggregate score.
Uganda will now wait to play their home encounters against Tunisia, Morocco and Zimbabwe.
Tunisia is up next on August 4, 2018.
Kenya will play Tunisia next before rounding off their campaign away to Namibia in what is anticipated to be the decider of who gets a ticket to next year’s World cup.
