South Africa 62 – 7 Uganda
The African rugby giants are indeed not putting down their guards at the tournament as they beat their first opponent with a big margin and allowed only one try past their tight defense line. The Springboks returned to defend the title that they had won for the past two years and their first significant victory against Uganda marked a huge step towards their goal. South Africa fielded eight debutants as the team’s aim was to test some of its players in preparation for the World Cup games later this year.
The Springboks maintained control of the game throughout and led by a score of 29 to 0 against a scoreless Ugandan side. After the break, the South African team continued to apply pressure on Uganda, scoring a couple more tries before Uganda managed to secure one try along with a successful conversion. However, this was not enough for Uganda, which spent most of the game on defense compared to its offensive time. By the 80th minute, South Africa had scored 10 tries with six conversions. Three debutants—Lerato Makua, Faith Tshauke, and Patience Mokone—each scored two tries for the Springboks. Uganda’s only try was scored by Susan Adong in the second half.
Kenya 28 – 5 Madagascar
On the other hand, the Kenya Lionesses had a tough time with the host country, which managed to score only one try. In the previous edition, the Kenyan side lost to the host country (29-22). This was a sweet return and a boost as they kicked off the Rugby Africa Championship campaign. The Lionesses managed to break through the tight defense of Lady Makis in the 25th minute to secure their first try. Just before the whistle blew for half-time, Madagascar managed to secure a try but failed to make the conversion, keeping the score close at 7-5.
The battle was decided when Kenya’s Sheila Wafula used the last minutes of the first half to break through the opponent’s defense, securing a try and a successful conversion, which extended the lead at the half. The Lionesses maintained this dominance at the start of the second half and throughout, finishing with five tries, two conversions, a penalty kick, and a drop goal.
Next Games
The games return on June 11th, featuring South Africa going up against Kenya. Both teams have demonstrated that they are in the conversation for the title, and this will be a challenging contest for both sides. Kenya is eager to secure this championship for the first time, while South Africa aims to uphold its dominance. Meanwhile, Uganda will compete against the host country, as both teams pursue their first victories in the tournament.
