Grizzles beat Muhanga in rugby league opener

Saturday Grizzlies 14-10 Muhanga Grizzlies kicked off their campaign in the new rugby league season with a 14-10 win against Muhanga at University of Rwanda Huye campus rugby ground on Saturday. The hosts took the lead in the first half with two well taken penalties through coach-player Claude Mudaheranwa making it 6-0 in the first half. Muhanga started the second half stronger and took the lead through their star player Laurien Hakizimana who scored a try and conversion to make it 7-6 in favour of the visitors. But their failure to contain pressure from the hosts resulted into another penalty and was converted by Mudaheranwa before Evariste Dusengimana added misery on the visitors when he scored a try in the final minutes of the game. Patrick Habyarimana brought back the visitors in the game when he converted a penalty after foul on him by Grizzlies’ Emilly Nkurunziiza, but it could only add on the points. “We did not play as we would have liked, I don’t know what happened but we shall make changes and ensure that we succeed in the next games,” said Muhanga RFC head coach Livingstone Muhire. His counterpart of Grizzilies, Mudaheranwa was happy for his team performance and urged the players to keep up h the run. He said: “If we can keep up the spirit, I’m sure can challenge for the title.” The league will continue on January 10 when Kigali Sharks host Nyamirambo-based Lion de fer and Thousand Hills will be up against Remera Buffaloes. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Grizzles beat Muhanga in rugby league opener