Rhinos and Toyota Buffaloes played a see-saw match in Round Nine of the 2025 men’s Uganda Rugby Premiership at Legends on Saturday evening.
The match ended 25-23 in favour of the hosts but the lead had changed four times during the eighty minutes.
Rhinos scored first in the first minute through Davis Shimwa and Buffaloes responded in the seventh minute through Moses Olweny. The two kickers Ivan Kirabo and Liam Walker missed their respective conversions.
Then the visitors took the lead at the twenty-minute mark through Ronald Kanyanya but Walker missed the conversion attempt again.
Kirabo stepped up just before halftime with a try and conversion for Rhinos to lead by 12-10 points.
Both teams did not give away kickable penalties in the first half as they engaged each other in pulsating fashion.
It took eight minutes after the break for the first points to be scored — a penalty kick by Kirabo.
Walker took the cue and slotted one of his own four minutes later to make it 15-13. Then Kirabo added another for Rhinos to stay ahead by 18-13 after one hour of action.
Douglas Musoke powered over to level matters and Walker converted easily as Buffaloes assumed the lead by 20-18.
It looked like Buffaloes would run away with the victory after Humphrey Ndahura’s drop goal in the sixty-ninth minute to make it 23-18.
However, Rhinos forced the situation and made it a win-it-or-lose-it last play. They succeeded five minutes past regulation time through Arnold Ocen.
The score was tied at 23-apiece only momentarily as Kirabo’s conversion sealed the victory for Rhinos by 25-23 points.
Rhinos ended a two-match losing streak and consolidated fifth place on the table while Buffaloes lost for the first time in five matches.
With two rounds left until the end of the regular season, it is going to be a mad scramble for favourable positions on the table.
Full Round Nine Results:
• Rhinos 25-23 Buffaloes
• Heathens 15-13 Victoria Sharks
• Pirates 62-22 Eagles
• Hippos 27-17 Mongers
• Walukuba 31-37 KOBs
• Elgon Wolves 11-36 Warriors
