Arusha, 17 August : Burundi beat Rwanda by 9 points to 6 on Thursday in the CASTEL Regional Trophy Tournament here to record their first ever test victory. The Intambwe (Lions)have played seven international matches since 2004 and this was the first time they have managed to win an international match. A drop-goal by Burundi flyhalf Cedric Nsenggiyumva gave his side a well deserved 3-nil lead. Centre Harvina Hatumginama extended the advantage to 6-nil with a penalty from close range. Burundi’s forwards had the upperhand for the entire match and on a few occassions their relentless driving play almost resulted in a try. Their handling though let them down and in the end the 9-6 score line flattered Rwanda. Rwanda’s Ismael Bikambo slotted two penalties to level the scores, with ten minutes to go Hatumginama kicked his second penalty of the match. Burundi hung on to the lead and were on the attcak when referee Peter Trevor signalled the end of the match. The final whistle sent off wild celebrations by the Burundians who on Tuesday lost heavily to Tanzania.
Burundi scrumhalf Emmaneul Mbirizi who has played in all seven internationals described the victory as the biggest achievement in the short history of Rugby in Burundi. ” We are all so excited, we can’t believe that we have finally managed to win our first match. We have worked hard for this and now we can only improve further.”
Stand in captain Declan Magee, an Irishman working for the Burundi Government, was named Man of the Match after a great performance in the number 2 jersey for his adopted country : “This is fantastic, this means so much to us and I am sure will do a lot for the popularity of rugby in our country.”
The result leaves Tanzania at the top of the table and almost ensured of victory in the tournament after their 60-3 win in the first match. Rwanda will have to do the impossible and beat Tanzania by sixty points to win the tournament. The final match is Saturday afternoon. In a curtain raiser Burundi will play Mombassa Sports Club.
Thursday’s match also sw the international debut for Tanzanian referee Peter Trevor. He became the first Tanzanian referee to handle a test match.