Victoria Sharks made a statement in their debut season in the top flight of Ugandan men’s rugby, securing a narrow 22-16 victory over Kampani’s Eagles in the opening round of the 2025 Nile Special Rugby Championship. The match, held at Kitante Primary School, saw the Sharks weather intense pressure from the hosts but ultimately come away with the win in a contest that was far from comfortable.
The match started with an early exchange of penalties, as Sharks’ Daniel Kateregga opened the scoring with a penalty just three minutes after kickoff. However, Eagles quickly responded, with Willy Araptai slotting a penalty of his own six minutes later. The game’s first try came in the sixteenth minute when Alhaji Manano crossed the try line for Victoria Sharks, giving them a 7-3 lead. Eagles again responded through Araptai, whose penalty on the stroke of half-time brought the score to 10-06 in favor of the visitors.
In the second half, Victoria Sharks extended their lead with two tries: first, Davis Kyewalabye touched down, and then Daniel Ebau followed suit. The Eagles fought back with Klaus Katende’s try, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The Sharks ultimately held on to their slim advantage, winning 22-16.
Despite the victory, the match was marked by a series of missed kicks that left both teams frustrated. Sharks had two penalties and a conversion attempt off the mark from five total kicks, while Eagles struggled even more, failing to convert four out of their eight penalty attempts. The missed kicks, particularly those by the Eagles, cost them dearly, as they failed to turn their territorial advantage into points. In the end, they had to settle for a losing bonus point.
The result left the Sharks pleased with the win but aware of areas to improve as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures in the competition.
Round One Recap
Elsewhere in Round One, Rhinos delivered the upset of the weekend by defeating KCB KOBs 13-11 at Legends Rugby Grounds, while Black Pirates bounced back from a shaky first half to secure a 38-10 win over Walukuba Barbarians at Kings Park Arena.
Full Matchday One Results:
- Elgon Wolves 08-19 Plascon Mongers
- Eagles 16-22 Victoria Sharks
- Jinja Hippos 30-24 Toyota Buffaloes
- KCB KOBs 11-13 Rhinos
- Platinum Credit Heathens 45-12 Warriors
- Stanbic Black Pirates 38-10 Walukuba Barbarians
With Round Two approaching, the Nile Special Rugby Championship promises to deliver even more thrilling action as teams continue their bids for supremacy in Uganda’s premier rugby competition.
