Kabras RFC bagged an 81-21 win in a Friday kick-off match played at Kakamega Showground to maintain their perfect start to the season, although it was the first outing this campaign in which they conceded three converted tries.
The encounter began with a minute of silence in honour of Felix Ouma Chano, who passed away earlier this year. His burial on Saturday is the reason the fixture was brought forward to Friday to allow Strathmore Leos to attend.
Kabras RFC pressure
After close to five minutes of sustained pressure, Alfred Orege beat his marker on the outside and offloaded to Teddy Adaka for the opening try of the encounter to give Kabras a 5-0 lead, though Eric Cantona missed the conversion.
Kabras stretched the advantage on their next visit to the 22 when forward play left the students struggling at the ruck. Walter Okoth fed Patrick Sabatia, who powered over for the second try of the day. Cantona made amends with the conversion for a 12-0 lead.
Teddy Akala added the third try following a close-range move as Kabras moved to 17 points. Strathmore Leos responded when they kicked a penalty to the corner, shifted the ball wide and found Elton Amalemba, who beat the defence for a converted try.
Kabras replied almost immediately when Valerian Tendwa set up Okoth, who raced away to touch down for a 22-7 lead. Orege later made a brilliant break that nearly resulted in another try, but his pop pass to the already marked Cantona saw the winger bundled into touch.
The Sugarmen grabbed their fifth try after a dominant scrum, with the forwards overpowering the students. Barry Robinson attacked the blind side before Okoth dived over at the corner, and Cantona added the extras for a 29-7 lead.
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Kabras continued to push and extended their advantage when George Nyambua linked up with David Bunduki, who crossed for a try that Cantona converted to make it 36-7. Strathmore, however, became the first side to breach the Kabras defence twice this season when Arnold Muita intercepted and raced under the posts for a converted try, reducing the deficit to 36-14 at the break.
The second half started with Mathias Osimbo diving over under the posts for a 43-14 lead. Kabras then moved into the 50s after bullying the Leos at the scrum, with the ball flowing through Tendwa, Okoth and Osimbo before Cantona cruised over and converted for a 50-14 scoreline.
A fortunate bounce of the ball allowed Nahashon Mwangemi to react quickest and race away for a centre-post try to take Strathmore to 21 points. Kabras co-captain Eugine Sifuna then came off the bench and made a powerful carry to extend the lead to 55-21.
Osimbo once again broke through the Leos defence with pace to score a converted try for a 62-21 advantage. Kabras added another off a scrum when Walter Okoth overpowered his marker to score and stretch the lead to 67-21.
The Sugarmen entered the 70s when Patrick Sabatia made a line break from his own half and dotted down near the posts, with the conversion pushing the score to 74-21. They completed the rout in the closing stages after once again overpowering Strathmore at the scrum in the danger zone, William Mwanji pouncing on the ball for the final try, which Cantona converted to seal an emphatic 81-21 victory.
