Battle of titans

By BS Mukavi

Mwamba will today continue with their title defence of the Impala floodlit when they lock horns with hosts’ Impala in the semi finals.

Mwamba had a perfect start last week when they drubbed Strathmore University 43-8 and will be hoping to carry this fine form when they face stiffer competition from a more physical side.

The ‘black shirts’ from kulabu will miss the services of five national sevens team players, who will depart for the last two legs of the IRB Sevens circuit on Sunday.

Collins Injera, Humphrey Kayange, Lavin Asego, Horace Owiti and Victor Oduor will all not be available for the late kickoff at 7:30.

In place to replace them will be crafty winger Edgar Abere, centre Sydney Nderitu and Gibson Sewe. Impala will be grateful to have the services of Innocent Simiyu who will not travel with the sevens national team due to work related commitments.

Also in the Impala team will be former Nakuru captain Vincent Mose, who is expected to start for the reds after his team was kicked out of the tournament by Impala.

The first semi-final today will see a battle of the beasts between Kenya Harlequin and Kenya Commercial Bank. Quins are expected to unveil new signing Naphatali Bondo, who has jumped ship from neighbours Impala, while KCB will retain the same squad that edged out Mean Machine last weekend with exception of the return of Benjamin Otieno, who is back from Morocco where he travelled with the sevens Shujaa team for the Tangier Sevens.

In the schools category, St Mary’s High will be hosting their annual Blackrock tournament, which is a prominent feature in the schools’ rugby. Seventeen schools have entered this year’s Festival. These are hosts St Mary’s, Rift Valley Academy, Strathmore, Nairobi School, Lenana, Upper Hill, Dagoretti, Muhuri Muchiri, Rosslyn, Sunshine, Hillcrest, Peponi, Mutuini, Ofafa Jericho, Jamhuri, Moi Forces Academy and Riruta.

The inclusion of six girls teams is expected to spice up the festival.

 

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