Hosts Stanbic Mwamba ended their four year wait for a home title in style, after lifting the division one and two titles, at the Kinoru stadium in Meru.
Kulabu and Vumbi (Mwamba’s second side), blew past all opposition over the two days in their respective divisions to finish the tournament without losing a single match. While Vumbi ground out a 10-7 result at the death against a stubborn Vihiga Granites in the cup final, the main side annihilated a Menengai Oilers who had impressed in the lead up to this final, 27-7.
Those finals were a fitting reflection of the campaigns the two sides had in the tournament, while Vumbi’s route to the title was marked by tough battles that ended in 2 point wins, the main side was in imperious form, steam rolling past all opposition they met off the Kinoru turf.
Kulabu started their journey to the title with a 17-12 win over the Kenya Harlequins, in what would be the lowest score and winning margin they posted over the two days. They followed this up with a 53-0 win over Egerton, before rounding up day one action with a 29-0 blanking of Nondies.
They would be joined in the cup quarter finals by Nondies, the Menengai Oilers who had pipped KCB to top spot in pool A, Homeboyz finished ahead of MMUST in pool B, with Nakuru and the Nothern Suburb Cubs from Pool D completing the list of eight.
The Suburbs followed up their heroics in Kakamega with wins over Strathmore Leos and Blakblad to not only ensure that they maintain division one status but also see them progress to a first ever cup quarter final. On the other side of the draw, Impala failed to match their performance in Kakamega after a 21 all draw result against the Oilers coupled by a loss to KCB saw the Sarries drop to the challenge trophy.
Quins once again found themselves in the challenge trophy after narrow losses to Nondies (26-24) and Mwamba (17-12), they were joined by the Catholic Monks, Egerton Wasps, Blakblad, Mean Machine, Meru and Strathmore.
Oilers beat MMUST 19-0 in the day’s first cup quarter final, with Nakuru edging out Nondies 17-12, the third quarter final saw KCB battle to a 12-7 result to set up a repeat of the Kakamega sevens cup semi final against Mwamba who breezed past the suburbs 43-0.
The Resolution Impala Saracens would go on to lift the challenge trophy after seeing off the Catholic Monks, Blak Blad and the Strathmore Leos respectively. Homeboyz made the most of their loss to KCB, with a 5th placed finish after a 12-0 win over Nondies. With Quins finishing in 13th place after beating the Monks in the final, the quartered have again finished in the relegation zone, it will be interesting to see if they make it to the Dala sevens division one draw.
In the cup semi finals, the Oilers overcame a tough battle against neighbours Nakuru RFC to win 12-7 and book a place in the cup final, for the second time in their short history. The second semi final saw Mwamba blow past a stunned KCB side 21-7. Nakuru went on to finish in 3rd after seeing off KCB 17-12 in the bronze final.
The big dance quickly turned into a one sided affair, as a rampant Mwamba turned on the class to freeze the Oilers 27-7. Early tries from Steve Sikuta, Tony Omondi and the eventual MVP Billy Odhiambo saw the black shirts go to the breather holding a comfortable 15-0 lead.
The second half would start like the first, this time the maestro Collins Injera adding his name to the scorers list to take to 20-0. The chuchu train would minutes later turn from hero to villain, after an infringement saw him spend the next two minutes on the naughty chair.
Oilers would get a moment of reprieve during that duration and would go on to put their first points on the board through Austin Sikutwa, before Billy Odhiambo sprinted the length of the pitch to grab his brace and ensure that the main cup trophy would decorate the Mwamba cabinet for the rest of the year.
The black shirts were deserved winners over the two days, playing some brilliant rugby through out, it is no wonder that they flooded the team of the tournament roaster with Billy Odhiambo, Steve Sikuta, Tony Omondi, Collins Injera and Greg Odhiambo all making the list.
The complete dream Team – Billy Odhiambo, Steve Sikuta (Mwamba RFC), Walter Okoth (Nakuru RFC), Davis Nyaundi (Menengai Oilers)Tony Omondi, Collins Injera, Greg Odhiambo (Mwamba RFC).
The sevens caravan takes a break at the weekend, action resumes in a fortnight with the Dala sevens in Kisumu.
KWISHA… Nimeruka Nje!!!
