Kabras RFC redeemed themselves in Pool D to qualify for the Prinsloo 7s Cup quarterfinals, joining the likes of KCB Rugby, Menengai Oilers, and Kenya Harlequin, all of whom finished top of their pools with a 100% win record at the Nakuru Athletic Club.
The Sugarmen, aware of how vital a win would be, struck early. A determined dive at the corner by Lamec Ambetsa gave them a 5-0 lead, and moments later, a blistering run by Ambesta from their own 22 saw them double the advantage against former his employers, stretching the lead to 10-0.
MMUST pulled one back just before halftime, with Kevin Bukhala pouncing on a loose ball to score and reduce the deficit to 10-5.
In the second half, Kabras resumed their dominance. The ball was swiftly shifted to the left to find Jacktone Osoo, who crossed over for a 15-5 lead. Brian Mutua then sold a dummy and sliced through the defence to score a try that extended the advantage to 20-5, effectively putting the game beyond MMUST.
Prinsloo 7s pool a standings. PHOTO/Tournifyapp
Osoo returned to complete Kabras’ emphatic win with another try at the corner for a commanding 25-5 result. Mwamba however topped Pool D due to a better head to head record against Kabras RFC.
Impala edge Mwamba
Impala ended Mwamba RFC’s unbeaten run with a narrow 14-10 victory, but the result was not enough to hand them a place in the Cup quarters.
Mwamba started strong, scoring a try on the left flank, before Eugene Ojiambo doubled their lead with a second try at the right corner.
Impala fought back through Derrick Kinyari, who latched on to an offload and scored under the posts. The conversion made it 10-7.
Timothy Makiya then dotted down to give Impala the lead, and the successful conversion secured a 14-10 advantage. Impala held on for the win but fell short as Mwamba had already qualified.
Kenya Harlequin Top Pool A
Kenya Harlequin topped Pool A after edging Nakuru RFC 15-12 in a tightly contested affair.
Quins drew first blood with a try early in the first half, much to the dismay of the home fans. In the second half, Lucky Dewald forced a turnover, and a quick tap penalty allowed Charles Kinyanjui to score at the corner for a 10-0 lead.
Quins earned another penalty off the restart due to an aerial collision and opted for a scrum. Dewald picked from the base and powered over to extend the lead to 15-0.
Prinsloo 7s pool A standings. PHOTO/Tournifyapp
Nakuru responded through Chrisant Ojwang, who cut inside and put Javan Otieno through for a converted try, narrowing the score to 15-7.
Otieno nearly added another but was tackled high. Quins were penalized twice in quick succession and reduced to five men following yellow cards to Kinyanjui and another teammate.
Nakuru capitalized with a late try, but the 15-12 scoreline wasn’t enough to overturn Quins’ lead.
Mombasa RFC wrapped up their pool matches with a narrow 17-15 win over Stallions, finishing third in their group.
Oilers avenge
Menengai Oilers avenged last weekend’s Pool D loss by defeating Strathmore Leos 19-7 in the final Pool B fixture.
Oilers had a perfect start, with Denis Abukuse, last season’s top scorer, breaking down the right to score. The try was converted for a 7-0 lead.
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Strathmore nearly responded, but Victor Mola knocked on the ball while attempting to ground it, allowing Oilers to escape into halftime with the lead intact.
Three minutes into the second half, John Okoth committed defenders before feeding Daniel Kipchirchir, who raced clear for a converted try to make it 12-0.
Prinsloo 7s pool B standings. PHOTO/Tournifyapp
Strathmore hit back through Samuel Wafula, and the conversion reduced the gap to 12-7. However, Samuel Mwaura’s sharp pass to Beldad Ogeta sealed a 19-7 win for Oilers.
Daystar Falcons defeated Zetech Oaks 17-7 to record their first win of the weekend and finish third in their pool.
Rampant KCB humble Nondies
KCB Rugby produced a masterclass, thumping Nondies 52-0 to top their pool with an unbeaten record.
In a repeat of last weekend’s fixture, which they also won, the Bankers were ruthless. Vincent Onyala regathered the kickoff and offloaded to Floyd Wabwire for the opening try and conversion.
Although Wabwire squandered a chance for a second try soon after, he atoned moments later, receiving a pass from Onyala to cross the whitewash again.
Prinsloo 7s pool C standings. PHOTO/Tournifyapp
From a scrum, Samuel Asati’s switch play found Festus Shiasi, who ran in untouched for another converted try.
KCB piled on more points through Emmanuel Opondo, Shiasi (who completed his brace off a loose kickoff), and Jenkins Kipruto. Wabwire completed his hat-trick before the break, making it 33-0.
As Nondies sought a consolation, a turnover handed KCB one final opportunity which they converted to close the match at 52-0.
Catholic Monks joined the quarterfinal lineup after dispatching Kisumu RFC 22-10, while Nondies missed out despite their earlier promise.
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 26-7 Stallions Rugby – 12:10 pm
- Nakuru RFC 19-0 MSC Rugby – 12:29 pm
- Menengai Oilers 31-5 Daystar Falcons – 12:48 pm
- Strathmore Leos 38-0 Zetech Oaks – 1:07 pm
- Nondescripts RFC 22-22 Catholic Monks – 1:26 pm
- KCB Rugby 48-0 Kisumu RFC – 1:45 pm
- MMUST 15-15 Impala RFC – 2:04 pm
- Kabras Sugar 15-17 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 15-17 MSC Rugby – 3:20 pm
- Daystar Falcons 17-7 Zetech Oaks – 3:39 pm
- Catholic Monks 22-10 Kisumu RFC – 3:58 pm
- Impala RFC 14-10 Mwamba RFC – 4:17 pm
- Nakuru RFC 12-15 Kenya Harlequin FC – 4:36 pm
- Strathmore Leos 7-19 Menengai Oilers – 4:55 pm
- KCB Rugby 52-0Nondescripts RFC – 5:14 pm
- Kabras Sugar MMUST – 5:33 pm
