The KIU Western Campus rugby team, The Crows came from behind in the dying minutes, to snatch victory from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Mustangs in a thrilling game in Bushenyi on Saturday.

The Western Regional Rugby League game, which was heading in favor of the visitors courtesy of a 12-6 lead, took an interesting turn when Howard Mwesigwa scored KIU’s only try, and Captain Urban Aijuka overcame the pressure to score the conversion, for a 13-12 lead.

KIU had raced into a 6-0 half-time lead, thanks to penalties from Franz Amigo and Daniel Kasirivu, but they were pegged back by two controversial tries and conversion for MUST. But the reigning champions rallied and turned the game on its head in the most dramatic fashion when Mwesigwa danced through the Mustangs backline and scored a try to reduce the deficit to 11-12. Captain Aijuka then stepped up to coolly convert and claim a first victory of the season.

The result sees KIU rise to second in the Western Regional Rugby League table with two points, one behind Kabale University.

Captain Urban Aijuka was happy with the result but decried the poor refereeing decisions for MUST’s two tries, which almost cost them victory.

“The referee was biased because he is from Mbarara and awarded them two tries which shouldn’t have counted, but it’s good we recovered and won the game.”, he said.

KIU retained the title they won last year. They also progressed to the final of the qualifier tournament in the Nile Special National Rugby Super League in the process but lost to Jinja-based side, the Walukuba Barbarians.