Buffaloes top table, UR Grizzlies falter in season opener

Saturday Remera Buffaloes 12-3 Thousand HillsKamonyi Pumas 10-0 U.R Grizzlies Remera Buffaloes defeated rivals Thousand Hills 12-3 in a closely contested national rugby league encounter played on Saturday at the Utexrwa ground. The win took the defending champions top of the table. Both teams are tied on 9 points, but Buffaloes are top by virtue of having scored more tries. Buffaloes played in Thousand Hills half for most of the game but were held back by the youthful side’s spirited defence. Veteran prop Benjamin Akami Makombe battered his way to a try in each half. Kicker, Jason Emmanuel Nduwayezu managed one conversion. Thousand Hills found their running game later in the second half but the champions were determined to protect their lead. Thousand Hill’s fly half Carlos Simbi converted a penalty for his side’s only score. “Everything went as planned apart from a few errors, but we tried our best, our defence was good and the score margin wasn’t that wide,” said Thousand Hills’ captain, Yvan Muhire. Meanwhile, Remera Buffaloes coach, Moise Fils Habumugisha attributed his side’s win to a mix of experience and energy from the new signings. In the Southern Province league, University of Rwanda Grizzlies got off on wobbly start losing away 10-0 to Kamonyi Pumas, who moved on top of the table with 8 points. Pumas’ fly half Emmanuel Hatangimana sealed the game in the first half with a try, conversion and a penalty. “We had a good defence but we lost out on possession due to poor support play and rucking, most of our players are rookies but they will pick up, that’s how rugby is,” said Claude Mudaheranwa, the UR-Grizzlies’ captain. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Buffaloes top table, UR Grizzlies falter in season opener