KSSSA nationals and East Africa 7s runners up Kinale Girls High School from Kiambu county etched their name in history on Sunday as they emerged champions in the final edition of the Western Black Rock 7s, held at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) grounds in Kakamega.
In the girls’ final, Kinale battled past rivals St. Joseph Girls-Kitale, famously known as Joga, to clinch the coveted crown with a 14-7 win. The tightly contested duel saw Kinale’s Kate Elizabeth steal the limelight with a brilliant brace. She struck early to give her side a 7-0 advantage before Joga leveled the score just before halftime.
Despite immense second-half pressure from the Kitale-based side, Kinale’s defensive line held firm. Elizabeth then dashed through the midfield to score under the posts, sealing a memorable win for the Allan Bush-coached side.
“This win means a lot to us. The girls have trained tirelessly, and to see that effort pay off is truly fulfilling. Kate was phenomenal today, but this was a team effort. We dedicate this win to our school and supporters,” said Bush.
Kinale had earlier thumped Madira 36-0 in the semifinals, while St. Josephs edged Mwira 35-14 to book their spot in the final.
The boys’ final was equally dramatic as underdogs Senende High School pulled off the upset of the tournament, edging perennial giants Kakamega High School 12-10. Senende’s performance was a testament to the growing parity in Western Kenya school rugby.
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Speaking to Scrummage Africa, tournament director Matayo Mwenesi reflected on the journey of the Western Black Rock 7s, which began in 2015 with just four schools.
“We’ve come a long way to hosting 33 teams this year,” said Mwenesi. “My goal was to have Western become more competitive by playing more games against diverse opponents, and I believe that today, Western is the most dominant rugby region in Kenya.”
This 10th edition marked the conclusion of what Mwenesi had always envisioned as a decade-long project. “2025 was always going to be the last one. This year’s tournament was the best, it had a real international outlook and very competitive sides,” he added.
He thanked all who supported the event through the years, including Patrice Agunda for equipment donations, Scrummage and Citizen for media coverage, and a network of friends, family, and alumni.
