The Makerere Sevens circuit produced the shock of the season thus far after Mongers defeated Betway Kobs to win their first event this year. Kobs, who started the weekend in third place following a dismal display at the Gulu Sevens, leapfrogged Toyota Buffaloes to get back to the summit of the table heading into the last round this weekend.
Buffaloes and Heathens, who went to Makerere with a 7 and 3-point lead over Kobs respectively, couldn't find their way past the quarterfinal stage and this gave the defending champions a chance to close in on the title. Mongers became the fourth team to win a circuit in this year’s National Sevens Championship joining past winners Kobs (2), Buffaloes (1) and Heathens (1). Mongers had defeated hosts Impis 14-12 and Rhinos 21-5 in the semis and completed the day with a 21-15 win over the Legends outfit.
Kobs defeated Buzz Pirates 10-7 in the quarterfinal before beating Rams 15-5 in the semis. The runner up position, worth 19 points, leaves Kobs on 91 points, 2 ahead of second placed Buffaloes (89) and 4 ahead of Heathens. Third placed Heathens will now hope to win the Kitaka Sevens and pray that both Kobs and Buffaloes drop out before the later stages of the circuit. However, with one circuit left on the calendar, Buffaloes, Kobs and Heathens will all fancy their chances this weekend.
After five circuits of the season, Kobs have won two circuits while Buffaloes, Heathens and Mongers have managed one each. Kobs started the season with two trophies following their triumph at Kyadondo and in Jinja. They dismally collapsed after some of their key players were called up to join the national Sevens team and only recovered at Makerere by making their first final since the departure of the five players.