Clearly the end of the Seven Wonders of rugby as this year’s Sevens championship has been referred is getting ever closer. Ordinarily, the expectation is that the race to the finish line should be as tight. Indeed it was after round four, which was played at the Pece stadium on the weekend of September 7 and 8 in Gulu.
Both the Stanbic Black Pirates and the Platinum Credit Heathens were locked on 73 points apiece. Yet, after last weekend’s fifth round of games in Jinja, dubbed the Kyabazinga Sevens, held at the Bugembe stadium, the Pirates, who finished fifth, are on 86 points.
They are nine points behind Heathens that nicked first spot in a tight final against the Walukuba Barbarians, and are certainly looking very hungry to eat up anyone in their pathway. Seeing the manner in which Heathens left it late, to level their game against Walukuba, when in the eyes of many, as they trailed 7-0, looked dead and buried, was a remarkable show of unwavering spirit.
By and large, Heathens have shown so much mettle since the beginning of the Sevens championship in August. Although they were beaten in the quarter-finals by the Plascon Mongers in Entebbe during round one, it was certainly a mere blip then.
At least they have shown from the way they responded since then. Out of the five rounds played thus far, Heathens have made four finals, a true mark of their consistency.
While they have only won two finals to-date, the fact that their nearest rivals, the Pirates, have made three finals, has just given the yellow machine, the extra edge. Right now, it looks like Heathens title to lose. Aaron Ofoyrwoth, who is certainly one of their major star acts, said recently, that they have been working hard to be here.
Essentially, it should not surprise anyone, that they are looking unstoppable. Although Heathens are record 7s champions, with 11 titles since 2001, their last one came in 2013. An 11-year drought is surely something they want to end, and extend the lead of five titles they have over their close rivals, Kobs.
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