NATIONAL SEVENS CIRCUIT

Menengai Oilers torment KCB to join Strathmore Leos in Prinsloo 7s final

By Tabby Nashipae

Posted on July 10, 2022

CB vs Menengai Oilers. Photo Courtesy/ Denis Acre -half.

Strathmore Leos and Menengai Oilers will face off in the Prinsloo 7s scheduled for Sunday evening at Nakuru Athletic Club.

Oilers have made it to finals for the third time in a row while Strathmore Leos also making their third final appearance are back after missing out during the Driftwood and Dala 7s.

For the third time in a row, this season, the Oilers have knocked out KCB Rugby, this time winning 19-14. With back-to-back semi-final victories against the Bankers, the Oilers were aiming for a third consecutive triumph, while the reigning National Sevens Circuit Champions were hoping to avoid a third straight defeat.

The bankers were early dealt a blow when skipper Michael Wanjala was yellow carded. Oilers made the one-man advantage count as Dennis Abukuse quickly scored and converted for a 7-0. Steve Arunga then pounced on a loose ball off a KCB handling error and scored a try that Abukuse converted for a 14-0 lead.

Geoffrey Ominde ensured a 19-0 heading to the break. In the final half, Arunga was yellow carded as KCB Rugby earned a penalty try to cut the deficit to 14 points. Peter Kilonzo then crossed over for the second try that saw the gap trimmed to five after a conversion but it was too late to come back.

Strathmore Leos are back to the finals for the first time since the second round Christie 7s where they were crowned Champions. The side stormed into the finals after comfortably brushing aside Dala 7s Champions Homeboyz with a 26-5 scoreline.

Gideon Makumi scored the opening try for the students as Moseti Nyaenya converted for a 7-0 against a Homeboyz side that had been reduced to six players after a yellow card. Leos took a 14-0 lead to the break with George Ooro adding the second try that was converted for a 14-0 lead.

From the break, Ooro was at it again going over for a try that put the game beyond Oscar Ayodi’s side. Ooro completed his hattrick when he scored the fourth try of the match that was converted by Brunson Madigu for a 26-0. Brian Mutugi scored Homeboyz consolation in the final minutes of the game.

Homeboyz have dropped to the third-place playoff where they will face off with KCB.

Fiffth place/ Challenge Trophy

Kabras RFC have qualified for the fifth-place finals having defeated Mwamba Rugby Club in the semis. They have booked a date against Kenya Harlequin who beat MMUST Rugby Club 26-5 in the first fifth place semi.

In the Challenge trophy, Catholic Monks will play against Nondies. Monks reached the challenge trophy after beating Impala Saracens 26-0 while Nondies saw off Western Bulls to get to this stage.

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