NATIONAL SEVENS CIRCUIT

KCB Rugby-Menengai Oilers to battle in Kabeberi 7s final

By Amanga collins

Posted on August 25, 2024

Menengai Oilers players Beldad Ogeta and Dennis Abukuse. PHOTO/Brian Mwenje

KCB Rugby and Menengai Oilers are set to battle in the Kabeberi 7s final after winning their respective semi-final encounters

Menengai Oilers are set for their second consecutive final after featuring in Dala 7s last weekend. To reach the final, the Oilers eliminated Kenya Harlequin picking a 26-21 win.

Kabeberi 7s contest

Quins had all the momentum in the opening moments of the game, but it was the Oilers who scored first, capitalising on a blunder from Amon Wamalwa for Beldad Ogeta to score an easy one near the uprights.

Quins would reply through Lucky Dewald who sold a dummy barely inside the 22 before covering the rest of the distance to score under the uprights.

Menengai Oilers Beldad Ogeta in action against Kabras RFC. PHOTO/Brian Mwenje

Denis Abukuse who has been blistering the weekend long then received a pop pass from Ogeta before backing himself to beat Amon Wamalwa in a foot race to extend Oilers’ lead, scores now 14-7.

Steve Arunga extended the Oilers’ scores at the death of the first half, Ogeta doing all the work before offloading to an oncoming Arunga for their third.

Quins were relentless off the blocks, and continued pressure deep on Oilers’ five-meter mark would pay off, Lucky Dewald dummying his way over the line.

Herman Humwa would score next for Quins after the Oilers failed to clear their lines, scoring under the keen attention of a marker in yellow to give Quins the lead. Scores now 21-19.

Oilers would miss another chance to pull ahead after Abukuse failed to field an Ogeta crosskick. Skipper Chrispine Shitundo would make amends moments later after lunging onto a loose ball to bulky his way over for the victory. Full time scores 26-21 in favour of the Oilers.

KCB Rugby proceed

The Bankers were in fine form defeating Catholic Monks 31-5 to reach the third consecutive final in Kabeberi. The Lions went hunting from the start as Austin Sikutwa’s kick behind the Monk’s defence line was secured by Hassan Wambani.

Continued pressure from the Bankers would then bore fruits as Jacob Ojee pounced on a loose ball off the scrum to touch down between the sticks.

KCB were at it moments later, capitalising on a numerical advantage after Dennis Mulinge was shown a yellow card. Floyd Wabwire would extend his impressive form with a try in the corner for a 12-0 lead.

Vincent Onyala produced a trademark take off the resulting kick-off to race clear for a score in the corner. Sikutwa grabbed a try of his own at the end of the first stanza, as Monks struggled to match the green shirts in numbers for a 24-0 lead at the break.

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KCB wasted no time off the break, Sikutwa muscling his way over the whitewash before Monks replied with their first of the game. Hassan Wambani took advantage of a lapse in concentration by Jacob Ojee to snipe on the outside before racing away to score in the corner for a 31-5 score at this point.

Relentless pressure from the students in the dying moments proved futile as the game concluded 31-5 in favour of the Bankers.

Kabras-Strathmore

Kabras RFC will tackle Strathmore Leos in a rematch of Saturday’s clash which Leos won 22-17.

Kabras RFC put pressure on the students and Warren Kamadi scored after a turnover for Kabras from ruck for a centre post try. Brian Mutua then offloaded to Humphrey Asiligwa for another centre-post try for a 14-0 lead after beautiful footwork.

Kabras RFC Eric Cantona race clear from Strathmore Leos. PHOTO/Tabby Nashipae

Kamadi and Eric Cantona combined before the later set Alfred Orege for a corner try. MMUST conceded a yellow card and Kabras sealed the first half with a try from skipper Mutua.

In the second half, Biden Hayo landed another try. Before MMUST a player was stretched off the pitch. Kabras added the final try to pick a huge win.

Kenya 7s back Nygel Amaitsa landed four tries in Strathmore Leos 32-7 over Daystar. In the first half he landed three tries to put his side in control.