Menengai Oilers made history as ended their five-match losing streak in the finals by edging Strathmore Leos 12-7 to win the Prinsloo 7s title at Nakuru Athletics Club on Sunday.
It is their first sevens Cup title in Circuit since their inception and they are the fifth different winners this season after KCB Rugby, Strathmore Leos, Mwamba and Homeboyz who had won the first four tournaments.
Defeats to Homeboyz RFC during Dala 7s and Mwamba Rugby Club in the Driftwood 7s had seen the Oilers extend their losing streak in the National Sevens Circuit finals to five. Oilers had previously reached the 2017 Kabeberi 7s final, as well as the 2019 Kabeberi and Dala 7s finals, but had all lost.
Heading to this final which was their third consecutive season, Gibson Weru charges were keen to break the final jinx. They started off impressively and Steve Arunga scored right before halftime with Dennis Abukuse converting for a 7-0 halftime lead.
From the break, Abukuse scored the second try for the Nakuru-based side to lead 12-0. Geoffrey Ominde was then yellow carded with Oilers reducing to six and Strathmore Leos managed one try through Brunson Madigu who bagged a converted try for a 12-7.
Homeboyz finished third beating KCB 21-10 in the bronze match. For the third season in a row, the bankers were defeated in the semi-finals by Menengai Oilers and failed to advance to the finals. Homeboyz, on the other side, came to this match looking for redemption after failing to make the finals. The Deejayz had won the Dala sevens title and were looking to continue their winning streak, but they were met by the tenacious Strathmore Leos, who denied them a place in the finals.
Homeboyz cranked up the pace of the game in the opening minutes, scoring an early try through Mohammed Omollo and it was converted for a 7-0 lead. Mike Nyakundi was later sent to the sin bin but the Bankers failed to utilize the extra man advantage. Nyakundi returned to score and converted further stretching the gap.
KCB struck with a try from Shaban Ahmed that cut the deficit by nine points. The Bankers then added their second five-pointer through Ahmed for 10 points. Homeboyz then added the final try, and Nyakundi added the extras for a 21-10 win.
Kabras finished fifth beating Kenya Harlequin 14-0 in the fifth-place final. The sugarmen landed two converted try to achieve their highest finish in the 2021 National Sevens Circuit.
Challenge Trophy
Catholic Monks 10-7 Kisumu
Blak Blad 0-29 Impala
Nakuru 15-29 Western Bulls
Nondies 5-0 Vihiga Granites
Cup
Homeboyz 26-0 MMUST Rugby Club
Strathmore Leos 24-19 Kenya Harlequin
Menengai Oilers 14-7 Kabras RFC
KCB 12-7 Mwamba Rugby Club
13th place
Kisumu 14-21 Blak Blad
Nakuru RFC 41-7 Vihiga Granites
Challenge Trophy
Catholic Monks 26-0 Impala
Western Bulls 10-26 Nondies
Fifth place
MMUST Rugby Rugby 5-26 Kenya Harlequin
Kabras RFC 21-19 Mwamba RugbyClub
Cup semis
Homeboyz 5-26 Strathmore Leos
Menengai Oilers 19-14 KCB Rugby
13th place
Blak Blad 21 -10 Nakuru RFC
Challenge Trophy
Catholic Monks 0 -21 Nondies
Fifth Place
Kabras RFC 14-0 Kenya Harlequin
Bronze
Homeboyz 21-10 KCB Rugby
Final
Strathmore Leos 7-12Menengai Oilers
