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Pius Ogena’s try was the icing on the cake as Kobs celebrated their first league title since 2016.
The last time Kobs hosted Stanbic Black Pirates at Legends, the visitors left with a 17-13 win and went on to complete a double over their rivals in the second round.
But the last time these two sides met in a title decider on the final day of the season, Kobs won the game 15-05 and went on to lift the league trophy on home soil.
Kobs went into the game well aware that only victory would be enough to secure the title ahead of fierce rivals Heathens.
Pirates were six points behind then-table leaders Kobs but had the opportunity to spoil the party.
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21:13 - 08.05.2023
RUGBY How Pius Ogena set his sights on equaling the tries-record milestone
However, Five match days into the season, the Kobs's loose forward was topping the tries leaderboard, and that's when it struck him that he could step it up and equal the most tries to record.
A contentious try by Alhajji Manano got the Blue Army going, and James Ijongat added a conversion and a penalty.
Harunah Muhammad scored for the Pirates, but Conrad Wanyama was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Pius Ogena’s try was the icing on the cake as Kobs celebrated their first league title since 2016.
All that was in the 2021 season that was held after the Covid-19 lockdown.
Only one round was played, and Kobs finished the season unbeaten.
14:02 - 08.05.2023
RUGBY Kickoff time for the Rugby League title decider between Kobs and Pirates moved
Pulse Sports can confirm that the kickoff time for the Kobs and Black Pirates fixture, scheduled to kick off at 2:30 pm, has now been moved to 4 pm, with the date and venue remaining unchanged.
The 14-time champions garnered 42 points from nine games and were closely followed by Heathens with 39.
The loss on the final day left Pirates 10 points behind the winners and in third place.
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The 2023 season will now present an opportunity for the Sea Robbers and Kobs to tussle it out for the title in a winner-takes-it-all situation.
Tied on 75 points after 17 games, the winner of Saturday’s clash will be crowned champion.
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12:31 - 09.05.2023
RUGBY Pirates' Gongodyo emphasizes mental strength ahead of final berth with Kobs
With both teams level on points (75), the game could go either way, but Gongodyo says paying more attention to detail and being clinical will be critical for the sea robbers.
Pirates have only lost one game this season, and that was to Kobs in the first round at King’s Park Arena.
On the other end, Kobs fell to Heathens twice but have been registering high-scoring wins in the rest of the games.
They have collected 15 bonus points and have a healthy points differential of 523 compared to the Pirates’ 335.
Who walks home with the trophy on Saturday? The Sea Robbers are searching for title number two, while Kobs want number 15.
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