Friends School Bwake won their inaugural national boys’ rugby 7s Championship with a dramatic 19-14 win over Vihiga Boys at Kisii School on Wednesday evening. In the match, Darias Kipsang, in a moment that made or broke the deciding try in the sudden death, Bwake sealed the win after the teams had deadlocked at full time.
In the normal play, Gerom Lumumba landed two tries for Bwake, both converted by Mabongo Chesoli, as Wilson Tonga’s two tries for Vihiga were converted by Felix Apuoka.
Bwake’s coach, Cleophas Mikisi, said he was proud of the team’s performance, considering that earlier on, his team lost to the same Vihiga. “We studied their game plan and corrected our mistakes, which paid off in the final,” Mikisi said.
In the third-place play-off, St Mary’s School Yala emerged 10-5 winners over Kisii School following a try courtesy of Angelo Makori after the two teams tied at 5-5 following fulltime. Defending champions Koyonzo finished sixth following a dominant 56-5 win over Nairobi School.
On the girls’ side, St Joseph’s Kitale emerged champion in the inaugural girls’ rugby 7s championship, coming from behind to defeat 10-5 Kinale. Having gone down in the first half, St Joseph’s levelled through a try by Sinaida Naliaka then Esther Wanyonyi scored the winning try.
While St Joseph’s coach, Godwin Alumada, praised his team for its great character, Kinale’s coach Allan Bush vowed to seek redemption at the East Africa championship in Uganda.
In the third place play-off in the girls’ category, St Theresa’s Kithimu defeated Nyagecheche of Kisii County 12-5. Despite the loss, Nyagecheche coach Dennis Onyango was proud of his team’s effort, pointing at a bright future ahead.