Prinsloo 7s defending champions Strathmore Leos, 2024 finalists Nondies, KCB Rugby, Kabras RFC and National 7s Circuit champions Kenya Harlequin all started their campaigns with wins at Nakuru Athletic Club.
Mwamba RFC, who introduced several experienced names into their squad, finally bagged their first win of the season, ending a five-match losing streak.
Nakuru RFC edge Kabete Stallions
Nakuru RFC edged Kabete Stallions 12-7 in their opening game. Oscar Ouma’s charges capitalized on a yellow card to the Stallions and punished them immediately. Off the scrum, the ball was shifted to the right, and Chrissant Ojwang released Cyprian Ombaso who went over for a try, converted for a 7-0 lead.
Javan Otieno extended the lead after diving at the corner to make it 12-0. Kabete responded after the break with a centre-post try, reducing the gap to five points, but Nakuru held firm to secure the win and join Kenya Harlequin on the winners’ list.
Champions Kenya Harlequin kicked off their campaign with a 22-10 victory over Mombasa RFC.
Menengai Oilers vs Zetech Oaks
Menengai Oilers began strongly with a 24-5 win over newly promoted Zetech Oaks in Pool B. Kenya U20 winger Daniel Kipchirchir opened the scoring for a 5-0 lead, then added a centre-post try for a 12-0 advantage.
Alvin Khavoli extended the lead further before Mark Demba capitalized on an offload to score Zetech’s lone try. Philip Okeyo then sealed it for Oilers with a strong cut-in run, scoring his maiden try and closing it at 24-5.
Strathmore Leos vs Daystar Falcons
Prinsloo 7s title holders Strathmore Leos opened their campaign with a convincing 26-5 win over Daystar Falcons.
Victor Mola raced in for the opening try and although Daystar equalized through Chris Obuya, Stanislaus Shikoli restored the lead just before the break.
In the second half, Mola picked up a loose ball from a knock-on to score again, and Barnabas Owuor sealed the result with a centre-post try.
Nondies vs Kisumu RFC
Nondies, the 2024 finalists, earned maximum points with a 22-7 win over Kisumu RFC.
Daniel Okito crossed for the opening try after sustained pressure, capitalizing on a yellow card to Kisumu. Kisumu responded with a centre-post try for a 7-5 lead. They attempted a penalty before halftime but missed.
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In the second half, Fred Shisia’s pace led to a converted try for a 12-7 lead. Hillary Baraza’s offload to Ryan Odua added five more points.
Kisumu were later reduced to six men following a red card (second yellow) and Nondies added a corner try to seal the 22-7 win.
KCB Rugby vs Catholic Monks
KCB Rugby edged Catholic Monks 17-10 in a closely contested match.
Bob Muhati scored first for KCB, converted by Brian Wahinya for a 7-0 lead. Felix Okumu hit back for Monks, beating his man to score for 7-5.
Wahinya added another try after a determined run, extending the lead to 12-5. Dennis Mulinge kept Monks in it with a try off a kick-and-chase, narrowing it to 12-10.
KCB, however, sealed the win with Samuel Asati’s try following a series of crisp passes.
Mwamba RFC edge MMUST
Mwamba RFC finally got their season going with a 14-12 win over MMUST.
Looking to avenge last weekend’s loss, Mwamba had to wait until the final seconds of the first half to go ahead 7-0. In the second half, Brian Mutugi beat his marker for a converted try to stretch the lead to 14-0.
Churchill Oyugi pulled one back for MMUST and the conversion narrowed the gap to 14-7. In the dying moments, Bevon Okoth chased down his own kick to score for 14-12, but the conversion to level the game was missed.
Kabras RFC vs Impala RFC
Kabras RFC went top of Pool D after a commanding 24-5 win over Impala RFC.
The Marlin Mukolwe-coached side made use of an overload on the right, with Jackson Siketi setting up Lamec Ambetsa for the opening try, which he converted.
Impala responded with a kick-and-chase effort, Andrew Matoka scoring for 7-5 after a missed conversion. In the second half, Siketi made a darting run off the scrum to score in the corner and added a tight-angle conversion for 14-5.
Ambetsa scored again after Impala conceded a scrum deep in their own territory, and Patrick Kluivert closed the scoring with a try off a ruck, sealing the 24-5 victory.
Prinsloo 7s Day One Fixtures
(Kick-off Times)
- Kenya Harlequin FC vs MSC Rugby – 9:00 am
- Nakuru RFC 12-7 Stallions Rugby – 9:19 am
- Menengai Oilers 24-5 Zetech Oaks – 9:38 am
- Strathmore Leos 26-5 Daystar Falcons – 9:57 am
- Nondescripts RFC 22-7 Kisumu RFC – 10:16 am
- KCB Rugby 17-10 Catholic Monks – 10:35 am
- MMUST 12-14 Mwamba RFC – 10:54 am
- Kabras Sugar 24-5 Impala RFC – 11:13 am
WOMENS Impala RFC vs Ruck It Rugby – 11:32 am
WOMENS Northern Suburbs vs Nakuru RFC – 11:51 am - Kenya Harlequin FC vs Stallions Rugby – 12:10 pm
- Nakuru RFC vs MSC Rugby – 12:29 pm
- Menengai Oilers vs Daystar Falcons – 12:48 pm
- Strathmore Leos vs Zetech Oaks – 1:07 pm
- Nondescripts RFC vs Catholic Monks – 1:26 pm
- KCB Rugby vs Kisumu RFC – 1:45 pm
- MMUST vs Impala RFC – 2:04 pm
- Kabras Sugar vs Mwamba RFC – 2:23 pm
WOMENS Kenya Harlequin FC vs Ruck It Rugby – 2:42 pm
WOMENS Mwamba vs Nakuru RFC – 3:01 pm - Stallions Rugby vs MSC Rugby – 3:20 pm
- Daystar Falcons vs Zetech Oaks – 3:39 pm
- Catholic Monks vs Kisumu RFC – 3:58 pm
- Impala RFC vs Mwamba RFC – 4:17 pm
- Nakuru RFC vs Kenya Harlequin FC – 4:36 pm
- Strathmore Leos vs Menengai Oilers – 4:55 pm
- KCB Rugby vs Nondescripts RFC – 5:14 pm
- Kabras Sugar vs MMUST – 5:33 pm
