Laiser Hill the toast in rugby sevens

IN MUSANZE, RWANDA

Kenya’s Laiser Hill on Saturday won the rugby sevens title on day seven of the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games here.

The Kenya champions eased past Uganda’s Jinja Secondary School 22-0 in their final match at the Busogo University grounds to end the round-robin competition with a perfect seven wins in as many matches.

After six days of intense battle, it is Laiser, who had the last laugh, proving that they are indeed the region’ best to win their maiden regional crown and complete the double after clinching the national title last month in Eldoret.

Laiser Hill skipper Clinton Kioko attributed the team’s success to hard work and fighting spirit.

“To win the East African title is not an easy feat but we have toiled and made a lot of sacrifices so as to achieve this success. We can now savour every moment of it as we plan for more success in the future,” Kioko said.

Laiser Hill came into the match on the back of six straight wins that included triumphs against fellow Kenyan sides Chavakali and Menengai High School.

And they wasted no time in underlining their intention in the game as Charles Tendwa raced clear for the first try. Fredrick Odongo dully converted as the Kenyans took a 10-0 lead at the break.

Jinja would result to a more physical affair in the second half and the opening exchanges saw some scrappy play. However, Laiser Hill would outwit their opponents as a try from Samuel Were and further one from Fredrick Onyango pulled them clear.

It was yet another sad end for Kakamega as they went down 2-0 to Rwandese side Lycec de Kigali in Saturday’s boys’ football semi-final. Second half goals from Abdoul Kiyambere and Jean Claude Harerimana condemned the Green Commandos to defeat. The Rwandese side will play Uganda’s Buddo Secondary School in Sunday’s final as Kakamega face another Ugandan side B.S Kimanya in the bronze medal match.

In handball, Kenya failed in its quest to win the gold as Moi Girls Kamusinga narrowly went down 20-19 to champions Kibuli Secondary School of Uganda in the final. Kenya also clinched the bronze as Sega Girls downed Rwandese side ES Kirambo 20-16 in the play-off match.

Kenya also secured another bronze medal in girls’ basketball as Kaya Tiwi saw off home-side St Bernadette 60-47 in their play-off match. The 2016 champions have now won bronze for the second successive year with Ugandan sides competing for the title yet again.