Uganda Rugby Cranes were too good for Cote de Ivoire as they outsmarted the West Africans 32-17 to win their first game of the tournament at Namboole Stadium, Kampala.
The Ivorians drew first blood after tight-head prop forced his way over the line but the Uganda Cranes would respond almost immediately with a try in the corner through Alex Aturinda.
The wet Namboole Stadium made it difficult for both teams but the hosts looked like to have adapted to the conditions quickly when a couple of good hands saw Adrian Kasito dive over in the half hour mark for Uganda’s second try.
Philip Wokorach added the extras to put the home team 12-5 up. The Ivorians with a little bit of some patience clawed back into the game as they got their second try thanks to a brilliant counter attack.
Uganda Cranes were quick on their feet early in the second half as they scored back-to-back tries in a span of three minutes to lead 26-10 at the 50th minute.
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Inside centre Joseph Aredo and speedy winger Timothy Kisiga were on target with Liam Walker adding the extras.
The Ivorians responded minutes later through a counter attack and it was winger Emmanuel Hotono who went over for the converted try.
Liam Walker kept the scoreboard pressure with two back-to-back penalty goals to take the scores to 32-17 before their 7s talisman Ian Munyani dived over to give the home team a 20-point buffer with 11 minutes to go.
The hosts would repulse a series of attacking threats from the Ivorians late in the game to win the game 37-17, a win that sees them survive relegation to lower tier.
