Uganda Women’s Rugby Premiership defending champions, Black Pearls, are slowly running away with the league title but Thunderbirds are not far behind.
The Black Pearls are only five points ahead of the Thunderbirds on the log, a lead that was shaken but regained, after the Kyadondo side comfortably put away the She Wolves 56-03 in last Friday’s fixture before the Pearls hosted and bossed the Panthers the following day.
Although confident that her team is firmly in the driving seat, coach Hellen Koyokoyo Buteme still has some reservations.
“There are still 3 games to play. We’re firmly in the driving seat at the moment but sport is funny; anything can happen. So we’re not relaxing,” she said.
It is this ‘no snake is too small’ attitude that has seen the Bweyogerere-based side go unbeaten in the Women’s Rugby Premiership since 2020.
Is the title race over?
On paper, the race is not yet done. Both the Black Pearls and the Thunderbirds have pulled away from the rest of the pack, enjoying a 17-point cushion between them and the third team, the Avengers.
Whereas the Avengers have been a shadow of themselves this season, they still pose a threat to the title hopes of the top two sides, whom they are yet to face after the resumption of the league.
Assuming the top two triumph against the Avengers, then they’ll have to square up on the final day to decide who takes the ultimate prize.
In the words of Buteme, “Thunderbirds will want a word…” on the small matter that is the TITLE.
With both sides back to their full complement after the continental engagement, we expect a cracker of a game on the final day of the season.
Thunderbirds welcomed back players like Yvonne Najjuma, Agnes Nakuya and Janat Nandudu while the Black Pearls are privileged to have back the services of Bushira Namutebi, Leona Acen, Suzan Adong, Lydia Namabiro and Grace Auma.
These returnees are expected to make an impact now that the Thunderbirds are without the services of Patricia Anek who sustained an injury on international duty while the Pearls shall miss Emilly Lekuru who has gone pro in Japan.
Even with a perfect result, Buteme still feels that her charges have room for improvement.
“Forwards turn over the ball too much. They need to do a better job of retaining it. Backs waste too many try scoring opportunities despite Emilly creating a lot of space for them and giving really good passes to release them,” she noted.
The Black Pearls boast of a host of youngsters who have integrated well with the seasoned players. Utility back, Rebecca Kabajungu has stood out whereas her compatriots Lillian Namuddu, Mary Grace Akoth and Zulaika Mukyala are also making waves, definitely players to watch for the future.
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