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For a penalty that was never taken, it is strange that a decision by the Union was based on an assumption.
The Uganda Rugby Union needed ten days to assess all issues brought up after the Heathens vs. Kobs encounter that ended in chaos at Kyadodo Rugby Grounds on April 1.
Heathens defeated Kobs in bizarre circumstances after a late penalty try was erroneously awarded by centre referee Ronald Wutimber.
Wutimber awarded a penalty try after Kobs players protested and refused to retreat for Heathens to take a penalty that would potentially untie the two sides that were locked at 12-all.
There is no law to back the referee's decision.
The law states that: "A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. A player guilty of this must be cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off. No conversion is attempted."
Heathens were only prevented from taking a penalty and not a try.
Losers
The biggest loser from the debacle is the referee. Wutimber has been suspended for the rest of the season and advised to do better by URU.
A statement from URU read: "The referee of the match has been stood down for the rest of the league and as a remedial action been sent for a course to further improve his decision making and law application."
The fixture two fixtures between the Heathens and Kobs this season have ended with more questions than answers regarding game management and officiating.
In the first-round clash at Legends, which Heathens edged 17-15 with a last-gasp drop goal by Aaron Ofoyrwoth, had a missed possible red card for Charles Uhuru and a contentiously ruled-out Adrian Kasito try.
While Uhuru was eventually suspended for 15 weeks, the referee in charge, Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, has since gone on to officiate games.
Wutimber was named as URU Referee of the Year 2022, and his suspension will leave the rest of the officials on tenterhooks in the coming rounds of games.
And when the time comes for Wutimber to return to active officiating, his reputation will have already been tainted by not only the decisions made in that game but also the Union's strong stand against their own.
Rugby Union
The Rugby Union has come out with one of the most bizarre and confusing decisions ever made in the sport.
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17:58 - 11.04.2023
RUGBY Ugandan rugby referee Ronald Wutimber suspended
Ronald Wutimber awarded Heathens a penalty try to hand them victory over rivals Kobs.
First, the suspension of Wutimber is an indicator that things fell apart in that game, and an official by the Union was presiding over the mess.
But as if that was not bad enough, the Union went on to decide that the 19-12 result stands yet scrapped the bonus point for Heathens.
A 19-12 scoreline in which Heathens scored three tries and four penalties converted by Kobs should hand the defending champions maximum points.
For the score to stand and the bonus point to be scrapped makes no sense. A team that wins a game with a difference of three clear tries earn themselves a bonus point.
"The score had a material effect in granting Heathens an unfair advantage of a bonus point, arising out of an incorrect decision of the match Referee. It is recommended that the match score/result should stand as awarded by the referee (19-12), this so that we don't interfere with the independence of the referee in managing a game."
URU went on to conclude by assuming that the Heathens' penalty, which was supposed to be the game's last play, was definitely going in.
For a penalty that was never taken, it is strange that a decision by the Union was based on an assumption.
Kobs
At 12-12, Kobs were still in control of the title race. But all that changed when the penalty try was awarded.
The 19-12 victory had taken Heathens top of the league with 59 points, but that will fall to 58, with the bonus point scrapped.
Kobs hierarchy believes there is nothing that the Union has done since the Heathens maintained their victory and place at the top of the log.
Brian Makalama's charges are now second, on 56 points, two off the pace in the race.
Winners
The biggest winners from all this are Heathens. While the bonus point is scrapped, their victory remains intact.
And with five games left in the season, it is a step closer to defending the championship.
With Kobs petitioning URU for a rematch, Heathens will be happy they do not have to do it over again.
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