Day 2 results
Côte d’Ivoire 16 – 11 Madagascar
Zambia 21 – 13 Uganda
Zimbabwe 60 – 06 Tunisia
Kenya 24 – 13 Namibia
Zambia 21
Tries: Fred Mutonga, Charles Mweemba
Pens: Tendai Cedrick*3
Uganda
Tries: Ethan Mugabi Cons; Matthew Musaasizi
Pens: Gift Wokorach, Matthew Musaasizi
Uganda Rugby U20’s journey in the 2023 Barthes Trophy tournament continued in disappointment after their second successive loss.
Following the defeat to Kenya in the quarterfinal, they faced yet another loss against Zambia in the fifth place placement semifinal.
Despite taking an early lead, the junior Rugby Cranes were unable to hold on, eventually falling to a 21-13 defeat.
The game started off positively for the Ugandan team, with them taking an early second-minute lead through a converted try.
However, their momentum was short-lived, Zambia scored a penalty in the 10th minute and a converted try seven minutes later putting the score at 10-7 in their favour before the break.
Charles Mweemba opened the second half action with a try for Zambia, extending their lead to 15-07 before Gift Wokorach cut the deficit by successfully slotting in a penalty to make it 15-10.
It would then become a contest amongst the kickers as Tendai Cedrick again extended his side’s lead with a successful penalty kick making it 18-10 for Zambia before seventeen year old Matthew Musaasizi countered with a penalty for Uganda to add three points to their tally.
Tendai closed the day’s scoring business with his third penalty of the day, bringing the score line to 21-13 in favour of the Zambian side.
Coach Emmanuel Katuntu stated that he was disappointed by the result as they started the game well but failed to capitalise on the impressive start.
With the loss to Zambia, Uganda’s hopes of finishing in a higher position in the tournament were dashed. Their focus now shifts to finishing the tournament on a high note with a win against Madagascar and securing a seventh-place finish, which means they will be moving backwards from their 2022 edition sixth-position finish.
The U20 Barthes Trophy will resume and come to a close on Sunday 30th April, as Zambia take on Côte d’Ivoire in the fifth place final.
2022 finalists Namibia will face Tunisia in the third place play off while defending champions Zimbabwe, will play Kenya in the tournament final.
