Pirates, Heathens in unbeaten sides clash

KAMPALA. It’s still early days in the Nile Special Rugby Premiership, two match days under the belt and four sides are still unbeaten. Log leaders Betway Kobs, Hima Heathens, Pirates and Dusupay Warriors all have clean starts.
Kobs visit Rams which the men in blue favourites to get maximum, Warriors head to Walukuba with the former`s recent fortunes expected to give them the edge.

But the crackerjack will be at Legends Rugby Grounds when holders Pirates host seasoned contenders Heathens. That means one of the could experience a first loss of the campaign unless the game ends in a stalemate like it did in 2016, when a 14 man Pirates held Heathens 17-all at Kyadondo.
Pirates completed the double over Heathens last campaign and they will come into this one the better side although Heathens have the arsenal to stop them. Slow starts against Buffaloes and Hippos in their last two games have raised eyebrows despite tidying up in the second half. Good second half displays get you wins but against a good side like Pirates, recovery can be an uphill task.
“It’s true we have not started games well this campaign only to pick up in the second half,” Heathens coach Mohammed Athiyo told SCORE.” We a lot of new players and it takes time for everyone to jell, that should not be a worry because with time, the unit will come good,” he added.
Pirates, fresh from a bruising 17-3 win over Rhinos in the Legends derby, have showed they are made for big occasions in the last one year or so. Their performances against the top sides have seen them do doubles over Heathens and Kobs but the new season come with its own challenges especially with the early season absence of key figures like captain Ivan Magomu and Musa Muwonge. David Busingye who replaced Magomu at flyhalf against Rhinos has the perfect day to stick his name into everyone`s mind.