Big guns advance in Nakuru 10-a-side tourney

Churchill Ooko of Strathmore (right) outpaces Aaron Mutuku of JKUAT during their Great Rift 10-a-side rugby match at the Nakuru ASK Showground on March 26, 2016. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |

What you need to know:

  • Comras Community, Northern share schools’ title after draw
  • Nakuru crushed Brumbies 14-0 before dismissing Eldoret 17-0 to book a place in the main Cup quarters.
  • It was a bad day for Eldoret who went on to succumb to a humiliating 0-49 loss at the hands of Kenya Harlequin in the other Pool A clash. 

Nakuru stayed on course to retain their Great Rift 10-a-side title after they won their two opening matches on Day One of the 27th edition of the tournament at the Agricultural Show of Kenya (ASK) grounds, Nakuru on Saturday.

Nakuru crushed Brumbies 14-0 before dismissing Eldoret 17-0 to book a place in the main Cup quarters.

It was a bad day for Eldoret who went on to succumb to a humiliating 0-49 loss at the hands of Kenya Harlequin in the other Pool A clash. 

Quins then edged out Brumbies 12-0 to assure themselves of a place in the main Cup quarters.

In Pool ‘B”, former champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) beat Catholic University of Eastern Africa 24–5 before dismissing Egerton 31-0 for a place in the Cup quarters.

OVERWHELMED

Impala started their title chase on a winning note in Pool C when they sent Egerton University packing 24-0 before overwhelming Catholic University 32-0 to also make the Cup quarters.

Strathmore outwitted Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) 36-0 and 58-0 respectively to sail through to the quarters in Pool D.

Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) beat JKUAT 10-0 and TUK 7-0.

The Anthony Ogot-coached Kabras Sugar crashed United States International University (USIU) 36-5 before thrashing fast fading University of Nairobi Mean Machine 17-0.

It was a bad day in the office for Machine who went on to lose their second match 29-7 to Homeboyz.

In the schools category played at Nakuru Day Secondary School, Comras Community School and Northern School will share the trophy for six months each after they settled to a 5-5 draw in the final.

Earlier in the semis Comras beat Menengai High School 12-5 while Northern School reached the finals after beating Comras B 24- 0.

In the girls under-18, Top Fry won the trophy after beating Impala 5-0.

Before reaching the last two Top Fry whipped Gatero Girls Secondary School 34-0 and in the second semi-final Comras beat Impala 5-0.

In the boys under-14 category played on a round robin basis, Top Fry won the trophy after amassing 16 points followed by Menengai with 12 points, Newlife Africa School ( nine), JM Kariuki (four) while Comras finished last with no point.

TITILE FAVOURITES

Elsewhere, title favourites Wavuvi from Kenyatta University kicked off their Nyeri Sevens campaign in style, hammering Karatina Royals 50-0 in a Pool A clash.

Wavuvi then saw off Vipers and Buruburu to emerge top in the group ahead of Vipers while Thika and Karatina Marshals finished first and second respectively in Pool B.

In Pool "C” Comras thrashed Festivals 64-0 to go top of the group.

The tournament, which attracted 12 teams, is the first in the region.

The event was officially launched by Nyeri deputy governor Samwel Wamathai who said the county will strive to make it bigger.

“The history of Nyeri County is not complete without a Nyeri Sevens tournament. The high turnout of the teams is true testament that there is future for this game in this county,” said Wamathai.