In a repeat of last year’s Netball Uganda National Rally final, St. Noa Girls’ Secondary School – Zana defeated Buddo Secondary School 18–15 to successfully defend their title.
Played under clear skies before a record-breaking crowd at Kaddugala Secondary School in Masaka on Saturday evening, the mouthwatering, nail-biting encounter delivered a classic spectacle to remember.
From the onset, St. Noa showed clear intent, taking control of the game with both defensive solidity and attacking fluidity orchestrated through the midcourt by Hellen Faidah and Georgina Obua.
Their dominance in transition set the tone for the contest.
In attack, the shooting prowess of Jamilah Nansibe, and Tricia Nalumaansi who were exceptionally accurate throughout the evening, proved decisive in sustaining St. Noa’s unstoppable run.
The final mirrored last year’s showdown, where St. Noa edged Buddo 22–21 to lift their maiden National Rally title.
To reach this year’s final, St. Noa laboured past Hamdan Islamic Secondary School with a hard-fought 20–18 victory in a gripping semi-final duel.
This was only the second meeting between the two sides, with Hamdan having previously beaten St. Noa in the third-place classification match at the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Championship in Tororo.
In the day’s other blockbuster semi-final, Buddo Secondary School continued their dominance over St. Mary’s Boarding Secondary School – Kitende, grinding out a 16–13 win.
The two giants have now met five times in less than a year, with Buddo claiming three victories — in last year’s USSSA National final in Tororo, the USSSA Elite Championship earlier this March at Janan School in Bombo, and this National Rally semi-final.
Kitende’s victories in that run came in the FEASSA final in Kakamega, Kenya (August last year) and this year’s National Novice final at Lubiri Secondary School in early March.
On their path to the final, St. Noa edged Kaddugala A 13–11 in the quarter-finals, while Buddo needed extra time to overcome a resilient Kawanda Secondary School side. The match ended 22–20 after extra time, with normal time tied at 13–13 and the first half of extra time also locked at 16–16.
Meanwhile, Hamdan Islamic Secondary School secured third place via walkover after Kitende declined to honour the third-place classification tie.
Final
St. Noa 18-15 Buddo SS
Full Semi-final Results
St. Noa 20–18 Hamdan Islamic
St. Mary’s – Kitende 13–16 Buddo
Quarter-final Results
Buddo SS 22–20 Kawanda SS (after extra time)
St. Noa 13–11 Kaddugala A
Kitende 15–13 St. Mary’s
Hamdan 19–9 Kasasa
