Despite a late challenge by last season’s champions Stanbic Black Pirates, record winners Platinum Credit Heathens clinched a record-extending 17th Nile Special Rugby Championship title on Saturday in front of cheering home fans at Kyadondo.
First-half tries by prop Emmanuel Byamugisha and flanker Joachim Chisano, coupled with a Malcolm Okello second-half penalty, secured a 15-13 win for the home side and sealed the new-format championship title.
Heathens held a 12-3 halftime lead before a Malcolm Okello penalty extended their lead going into the late stages of the game.
Late tries by substitute Jeremiah Okello and winger Roy Kizito saw Pirates rally back to close the gap to 15-13 but could not overturn the result as Heathens stormed to victory.
The result sees Heathens complete an impressive campaign, having lost just once—against arch-rivals KCB KOBs in their semifinal return leg—and reclaim the title they won in 2022.
