Saturday, July 10
*Uganda 53-12 Ghana
Tries: Okia (2), Ayera (2), Odugo, Odongo, Ofoyrwoth & Kanyanya
Conv: Kasito (5)
Pen: Kasito (1)
Adrian Kasito starred with the boot as Uganda Rugby Cranes beat Ghana to get off the mark in Group C of the Rugby Africa Cup.
The Betway Kobs man, filling the big boots of Philip Wokorach on the team, scored 13 points in a man of the match performance.
The Rugby Cranes braved the quiet atmosphere and absence of coach Robert Sseguya to emerge victors at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala.
Speedster Solomon Okia and Desire Ayera had braces each while Faraji Odugo, Brian Odongo, Aaron Ofoyrwoth and Ronald Kanyanya scored a try each in a convincing performance.
Captain Ivan Magomu missed the first conversion after Odugo crashed over in the third minute before the Black Pirates star man handed over kicking duties to Kasito.
The KOBs full back scored a penalty to hand Uganda a 08-00 cushion after Ghana was penalised for a high tacke. And Kasito never looked back, adding the extras from all tight angles and distances thereafter.
Okia punished Ghana when he strolled through the spaces to ground the ball after collecting from Ayera.
Ghana suffered another setback when Yaya Lukman was taken off hurt, and after that imjury break, Brian Odongo wasted no time to crush over after the team collected possession from an excellent lineout.
Ghana put in a decent shift in the closing stages of the first half and their surge was rewarded with Scott Miles and Josiah Twum Boafa picking tries to cut the deficit to 22-12.
Philip Apea Adu was sin-binned, and Uganda capitalised on the numerical advantage when Ayera picked from the base of the scrum before crossing the chalk. 29-12 at the long break.
Ghana started off the second half brightly but descended and never recovered as Uganda went through their gears.
Pius Ogena’s impressive run was finished off by Ofoyrwoth, Okia once again beat Ghana’s defence with speed and stamina to collect his second try.
Ayera grabbed his second try before Kanyanya came off the bench to put the icing on the cake.
Algeria face Ghana on July 14 before the former play Uganda on July 18.
The top two teams, from a three-team group, will advance to the Round 3 as the road to 2023 World Rugby Championship continues.
Players Used
Uganda:
Santos Senteza (1), Faraji Odugo (2), Brian Odongo (3), Robert Aziku (4), Eliphaz Emong (5), Kelvin Balagadde (6), Byron Oketayot (6), Desire Ayera (8), Paul Epillo (9), Ivan Magomu (10), Daudi Semwami 11), Pius Ogena (12), Justin Kimono (13), Solomon Okia (14), Adrian Kasito (15).
Ghana:
Prince Kweku (1), Rabiu Mohammed (2), Andre Hammond (3), Lukman Yaya (4), Philip Apea-Adu (5), Ka-Cie Addison (6), Gideon Klugey (7), Scott Myles (8), Kossivi Richard (9), Koffi Appiah (10), Jerry Danquah (11), Selon Gavor (12), Josiah Twum Boafo (13), Abdul Jalilu Yussif (14), Lesley Ansah (15).
