Poor start sends Rugby Cranes crashing out of Africa Cup
Philip Wokorach second-half Magic was not enough as Uganda crashed out the Rugby Africa Cup on Saturday. The Rugby Cranes fell to Zimbabwe 22-20 largely due to poor start to the game that saw the hosts trail 22-00 at the end of the opening forty minutes at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. The Sables of Zimbabwe […] The post Poor start sends Rugby Cranes crashing out of Africa Cup appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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Philip Wokorach second-half Magic was not enough as Uganda crashed out the Rugby Africa Cup on Saturday.
The Rugby Cranes fell to Zimbabwe 22-20 largely due to poor start to the game that saw the hosts trail 22-00 at the end of the opening forty minutes at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The Sables of Zimbabwe camped into Uganda’s half right from kick off and their early pressure was rewarded with a try inside from Edward Sigauke who shook off Shakim Ssembusi at the open side corner that was converted by Ian Prior.
Zimbabwe’s pack dominated Uganda at set pieces as they easily drove the scrums and mauls from line outs in the first half and were also quick and strong at the rucks as they forced multiple turns overs on the ground.
Prior skewed a penalty wide but the Southern Africans remained dominant and it was not long before Tukudzwa Musingwini found room on the left wing to ground at the corner to take the lead to 12-00.
Prior would extend the lead with a penalty and the superb first half from the Sables was caped with another try from a set piece as Brandon Mudzekenyedzi left Byron Oketayot and Ssembusi in his wreck before grounding. Prior added the extras.
Fred Mudoola called for some changes at the start of the second half as Joseph Aredo took over from Jones Kamiza while Alex Aturinda came in for Sydney Gongodyo.
Rugby Cranes started the half playing with a lot of urgency. Philip Wokorach called for the tee at the first points opportunity of the half and split the posts. The fullback would slice through Zimbabwe’s defense to ground and added extras as he led a comeback from the hosts.
Wokorach added a penalty before setting up Innocent Gwoktho to dot under the posts to which he would easily add extras to bring the to within 2 points with about ten minutes to play.
Wokorachs man of the match performance was only blemished by a missed penalty that would all but have won Uganda the game.
Zimbabwe thus advanced to the semifinals where they will take on Namibia on Wednesday at Wankulukuku.
Meanwhile, Uganda will take in Burkina Faso in the classification semifinal on the same day. The Rugby Cranes need to avoid an eight place finish to stay in contention for a World Cup slot.
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