UCU Angels produced a spirited second-half comeback to edge East African champions Prisons Netball Club 46-45 in a pulsating Uganda Netball Super League encounter played under floodlights at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds, on Saturday, October 17.
In a contest that lived up to its billing, the university side overturned a five-goal half-time deficit to hand Prisons their first defeat of the season and consolidate their position at the summit of the league standings.
Prisons started strongly, winning the opening quarter 14-11 before extending their advantage with an 11-9 second-quarter performance to take a 25-20 lead into the break.
However, UCU Angels returned from the interval with renewed determination, winning the third quarter 13-8 to reduce the deficit to one goal heading into the final period.
The closing quarter proved decisive, with UCU edging Prisons 13-12 to complete the comeback and secure a narrow 46-45 victory.
The result lifted UCU Angels to 22 points from 12 matches, with their only defeat of the campaign coming against defending champions KCCA Netball Club.
Prisons, meanwhile, remained fourth on 18 points from 10 matches, despite having opened the day’s proceedings with a 59-52 victory over Canan Netball Club.
Defending champions KCCA Netball Club maintained their unbeaten run with a 52-44 victory over Buddo Secondary School in a match overshadowed by contentious umpiring decisions, disciplinary concerns and heated exchanges between players and officials.
KCCA established early control with a 16-10 first-quarter advantage before the sides settled for an 11-11 draw in the second quarter.
The champions then edged the third quarter 13-11 before both teams scored 12 goals apiece in the final period, allowing KCCA to complete an eight-goal victory.
The result strengthened KCCA’s grip on second place, taking them to 20 points from 10 matches.
However, tensions escalated during the contest following an exchange between KCCA defender Shafie Nalwanjja and umpire Wycliffe Nahayo after the player protested consecutive decisions.
Nahayo subsequently suspended Nalwanjja for two minutes.
The situation intensified when Nalwanjja became involved in a further confrontation with Lean Gill, drawing in Gill’s mother, Zubedah Nassanga, an umpire’s assessor.
The incident prompted a temporary stoppage as KCCA players and technical officials intervened to restore order.
Elsewhere, Weyonje strengthened their position among the league’s leading sides with a commanding 50-33 victory over UPDF.
The result took Weyonje to 18 points from 11 matches, keeping them third in the standings.
Canan also bounced back from their earlier defeat to Prisons, recovering to beat Dynamite 43-36 and register a positive result in their second outing of the day.
With the title race gathering momentum, UCU Angels’ comeback victory over Prisons and KCCA’s continued unbeaten run have further intensified the battle among the league’s leading contenders.
Full Weekend Results – Uganda Netball Super League
KCCA 52–44 Buddo SS
Dynamite 36–43 Canan
Canan 52–59 Prisons
Weyonje 50–33 UPDF
UCU Angels 46–45 Prisons
