Friday, February 14
*Buffaloes 10-15 Pirates
Saturday, February 15
*Kobs v Hippos- 2.30pm, Legends
*Warriors v Mongers- 4.30pm, Legends
*Heathens v Rhinos- 4.30pm, Kyadondo
*Rams v Impis- 4.30pm, Makerere
Stanbic black Pirates squeezed past Toyota Buffaloes in a Rugby Premiership floodlights game played at Kyadondo Rugby grounds.
The hosts recovered from 03-10 to knot the score inside the last 10 minutes but a late Timothy Kisiga try handed Pirates their sixth win to end the first round with something to smile about.
The game, played on Valentines day, was highlighted by a couple of missed kicks especially Pirates’ Stephen Alul who was facing his former pay masters.
Alul drove his two penalties wide in the first half, while Conrad Wanyama was also unlucky at the other end in a highly contested affair.
Donald Oketayot came on as a substitute to break the deadlock with a kick and put Buffaloes 03-00 up in the second half.
Alex Aturinda retaliated shortly with a try after a maul. Alul fluffed the subsequent extras.
Timothy Odong grounded to extend Pirates’ lead after collecting from Timothy Kisiga and once again, Pirates missed a conversion courtesy of Benson Ngono.
Oketayot leveled matters for the home side, 10-10, to garner wild celebrations both on and off the pitch.
When it looked like both teams were settling for two points (for a draw), Pirates’ Kisiga benefited from Brian Tabaruka’s failure to grip the ball to run home for what proved to be the winning try.
Despite Wanyama sending his kick wide, the visitors had done enough damage and it proved so late for Buffaloes to launch another comeback.
Pirates remain third with 28 points while Buffaloes are fifth on 22 points.