Rugby Africa Women’s Cup: Lady Rugby Cranes hold off Madagascar for first win

The Rugby Africa Women’s Cup match-up between Uganda’s Lady Cranes and Madagascar’s Makis went down to the wire

With the last gasp, the Lady Cranes forced a turnover and scrambled to kick the ball into touch after the full-time hooter had been blown, securing a 24-20 victory over the host nation.

The Makis opened the scoring in the early stages of the game, but the Lady Cranes soon responded with a 5-pointer of their own from flyhalf Bushira Namutebi.

The Ugandans then added another try from the captain, Angella Nanyonjo and a conversion from winger, Janat Nandudu, who took over kicking duties from Namutebi.

What was clear throughout the first half was the Ugandans’ scrum dominance. This dominance would later almost seem costly as Uganda’s forwards seemed to run out of steam in the second half.

While the scrum was working for the Lady Cranes, the lineout was wanting. Phiona Nantongo, a rookie on her second senior tour, was so phenomenal in open play that it made up for the lineouts that did not go right. The introduction of Cabrine Kirabo in the second half provided much-needed contest at the lineouts, both on offense and defense.

Worthy to note, the Lady Cranes were blunt on attack whenever they reached the red zones, often knocking on the ball, throwing loose passes and not capitalizing on the Makis’ failure to exit their 22 area, as Madagascar chose to keep ball in hand in those areas.

The experience and prowess of Juliet Nandawula were on display as she got her first start of the tournament. Tina Akello came on and maintained Nandawula’s high standards, even getting an assist for Grace Nabaggala’s try. A Samiya Ayikoru try and Nandudu conversion set the comeback in motion for the Lady Cranes who had gone 12-20 down in the second half, partly due to fatigue but largely due to questionable defence.

Up next for Uganda are familiar foes, the Kenya Lionesses. The ladies from Kenya suffered their first loss of the tournament at the hands of the Springboks ladies, a narrow 12-19 loss.

The two East African sides come into the final fixture of the tournament with fresh memories from that 2023 Elgon Cup fixture in Kisumu. Whereas the composition of the Lady Cranes has drastically changed, and for the better, since that game, the Lionesses have stayed steady.

Realistically, this is a pride match for both sides. Uganda’s victory over Madagascar means they can no longer get the wooden spoon, but they wouldn’t fancy their chances much against a Kenyan side that can’t go higher than second place in this year’s edition of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.

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