Nile Special Rugby Premier League
Saturday Fixtures
*2 PM – Rhinos vs Buffaloes @Legends
*2 PM – Impis vs Hippos @Makerere
*4 PM – Rams vs Heathens @Makerere
*4 PM – Warriors vs Pirates @Legends
*4 PM – Mongers vs Kobs @Legends.
A deep look into this weekend’s Nile Special Rugby Premier League fixtures will make a local fan realize that underdogs are at home on Saturday with domestic pundits claiming that all traveling teams will pick maximum points on the road leaving home sides empty handed.
Being the only unbeaten side in the league so far, Heathens will seek to maintain their perfect streak when they visit Rams on Saturday for the final matchday of round one of the 2022 season.
Last weekend, Heathens ended Stanbic Black Pirates’ unbeaten run off a 23-10 beating on matchday eight at Kyadondo Rugby Club with the trailblazing ‘yellow machine’ consolidating their top spot with 38 points, five ahead of the latter who are second on the 10-team table.
Heathens will face a bit rejuvenated Rams side who have been unbeaten in the past four matches, picking three wins and one draw in the process thanks to Nelson Mandela’s penalty kicks which have helped the Makerere side jump to the sixth position on the table with 15 points.
The last time Heathens played Rams at the Makerere Graveyard, the former emerged triumphant with a 03-41 victory.
Pirates return to their former backyard Legends Grounds seeking to end round one on a high with a clash against struggling Warriors who are second last on the table with just seven points.
Warriors are still recovering from a slim 20-22 home loss to Buffaloes last time out and the way they react this Saturday will either compound their misery or offer them some relief heading into the final bend of the season.
Earlier on at Legends, Rhinos will seek to bounce back from that 22-06 derby loss to Kobs last time out but face Buffaloes who were triumphant the last time they crossed over to the same turf.
The first clash at Makerere Graveyard will see Impis play host to Jinja Hippos, a match that has a lot to say about this season’s relegation battle.
Impis are the only winless side in the men’s top tier division this season and are at the rock bottom of the table with six points while Hippos who lost to Rams 19-12 at Makerere last weekend are seventh with 12 points.
The Jinja side will be hoping to avoid back to back losses at the same venue whilst the home side will be hoping to get off the mark.
Defending champions Kobs haven’t been at their best this season despite picking wins here and there. They are third on the table with 31 points, just two behind perennial rivals Pirates but their fans are not fulfilled by being the last on the podium.
Kobs travel to the House of Payne to face Plascon Mongers (fourth on the table with 23 points) this Saturday and will be seeking to collect maximum points that side to assure the rest that the title is at their grasp.
However, Mongers have had a good season so far and even beat Impis 09-22 on the road last time out. Their partnership with Kansai Plascon Uganda which was renewed recently has boosted them and Kobs won’t have an easy walk in the woods.
