LET SCHOOLS BATTLES BEGIN: Kamusinga welcomes rest of Kenya as Maseno and Kakamega set stage for fierce rivalry in school games

LEISER BEAT MASENO Leiser HillsCelebrate after Beating Maseno in Rugby finals of the Kenya Secondary School Term 1 held at Nakuru Boys High School on 18-04-2015 PHOTO:BONIFACE THUKU

A showdown looms large today as former East Africa and rugby 15s champions Maseno School and Kakamega High lock horns in their opening match of this year’s Brookside Dairy Term One national secondary school games. Friends School Kamusinga will be the battlefield for the giants to renew their rivalry.

Maseno assumed the reins of schools rugby in 2014 at both the national and East Africa scene snatching the bragging rights from Kakamega, who had also won a double in 2013.

Maseno coach Gilbert Onyango told Feverpitch described the match as a must win for them. “Opening matches are usually scrappy, but we intend to make the best out of it. We are in a tough pool and winning will increase our chances of booking a semi-finals slot,” he said adding that they will focus on one match at a time.

Last year Maseno beat Kakamega 17-13 in the East Africa Games round robin clash.

They are in pool A, which also includes 2013 East Africa silver medalists Kangaru of Highlands who play Mau champions Moi Sirgoi in the second pool match.

In pool B, Bungoma High who are making a return to the nationals after several years in the cold take on Coast Region’s St Georges while Metropolitan’s Upper Hill play Mang’u of Aberdare in the second pool B tie.

Upper Hill will be the team to watch as they seek to make their presence felt in their debut at the nationals. Their opponents will be wary of their fighting spirit, desire and determination to excel that saw them end Laiser Hill’s rule in Metropolitan.

In Basketball, Upper Hill launch their quest to reclaim the title in pool A against Wajir while the second pool A match pits Kapsabet Boys of Mau and Alliance of Aberdare. Upper Hill, the two-time national champions lost the title to Maseno, last year.

In pool B Kisumu Boys tackle Coast champions Aga Khan while in the second tie Kapenguria face off with Kangaru.

In the girls contest, reigning Coast queens Kaya Tiwi take on Metropolitan champions Buruburu Girls in their first group A match. Last year’s first runners up St Brigids Kiminini take on Kirigara of Highlands. In group B, Lake champions Barchando take on Aberdare’s Loreto while Mau’s Moi Girls Eldoret hunt their first win against Senior Chief Ogle of Northern. The top two teams in each pool qualify for the semis.