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RUGBY AFRICA CUP: RUGBY CRANES QUALIFY FOR QUARTER FINALS DESPITE LOSS TO ALGERIA.

RUGBY AFRICA CUP: RUGBY CRANES QUALIFY FOR QUARTER FINALS DESPITE LOSS TO ALGERIA.

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Uganda Rugby Cranes are through in to the Rugby Africa Cup knockout stage despite losing their second and final Poll C game to Algeria on Sunday. 18th. July. 2021 at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds, Kampala.

The Rugby Cranes who had kicked off the Rugby Africa Cup qualifiers with a huge win over Ghana failed to put up the same show against a wounded Algeria team that had earlier on shockingly lost their first game to Ghana.

rugby cranes vs algeria
Pius Ogena tries a move past the Algerian on Sunday at Kyadondo. COURTSY PHOTO

The Algerians celebrated first as early as the 4th after converting from the penalty.

12 minutes later, they got over the whitewash with the first Try of the game, plus a conversion.

By the 16th minute, the Rugby Cranes were trailing 10-00 against the Algerians who were defending their line with numbers in the early stages of the game.

The shocking start called for a response from the Rugby Cranes who pushed forward and through Brain Odongo they got its first Try.

The Rugby Cranes scored again when Adrian Kasito hit the perfect line at the end of a lovely move and pass from Captain Ivan Magomu; and Uganda got in the lead for the first time 13-10.

 With just two minutes to the break, Algeria restored their lead 13-15 with another Try.

It was another half of thrilling rugby after the break with the Uganda Rugby Cranes starting on the high note to recovery however, it were the Algerians who celebrated again with another Try and a successful conversion in the 53rd minute.

rugby cranes vs Algeria

The game scorer remained at 13-22 in favor of the Algerians for the rest of the finishing half of the game with the Ugandans camping in the Algeria territory but their pressure didn’t yield any scores.

The Rugby Cranes never recovered from the shock; however, they managed to qualify as Pool C winners and will face Kenya in the quarter-finals of the Rugby Africa Cup 2022.

Algeria qualified as Pool C runners-up and will face Senegal while Ghana’s journey stopped at the pool stages.

 

The team:

Forwards: 1 Asuman Mugerwa, 2 Faraji Odugo, 3 Brian Odongo, 4 Robert Aziku, 5 Eliphaz Emong, 6 Mark Omoding, 7 Byron Oketayot, 8 Desire Ayera.

Backs: 9 Aaron Ofoywroth, 10 Ivan Magomu, 11 Maxwell Ebonga, 12 Pius Ogena, 13 Solomon Okia, 14 Daudi Ssemwami, 15 Adrian Kasito.

Reserves: 16 Ronald Kanyanya, 17 Santos Ssenteza, 18 Collin Kimbowa, 19 Kelvin Balagadde, 20 Joaquim Chissano, 21 Jacob Ochen, 22 Paul Epillo, 23 Ivan Claude Otema.

By Joseph Mary Ssempiira www.sportznow.ug writer.

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