Jinja Hippos defeat Eagles in Rugby League

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jinja Hippos Rugby Club has reclaimed its winning strides, following a 27:13 win against Kampani Eagles Rugby Club during a face-off at Dams Water Grounds in Jinja on Saturday.

Hippos tries and one conversion were earned through Bruno Kisule, Andrew Ojambo, Fidel Aremo, Eliphaz Emong and Elvis Opira while Eagles earned from Robert Ateng, coupled with two penalty shootouts from Willy Araptai and Jason Nuwamanya.

Hippos’ Head Coach Edmund Quaresma credits their excellence to hard work and ability to create try-scoring opportunities throughout play.

Quaresma says that kicking off with star performers like the KOBs, Heathens and Pirates in this season’s fixture was fatiguing to the team but securing a decisive win in their fourth encounter is relieving.

Meanwhile, Eagle’s Head Coach Cherokee Ngue says that his squad missed five key players who were away with injuries and this drastically affected his side’s final performance.

Cherokee notes that being new favourites in the rugby top-flight league lives the team with a need to learn speed and the ability to contain the game in case of intensified pressure from their opponents.

Hippos had a 20-all draw with Platinum Heathens and a 14:19 loss to black pirates in their last two games, reducing their chances of competing within the top-most four positions in this season’s rugby championship.

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