Ofafa Jericho yesterday proved beyond doubt that they are indeed an emerging force in Nairobi secondary schools' rugby.
Ofafa humiliated former Nairobi region rugby 15s champions Upper Hill 18-0 in the final as curtains fell on the 2023 regional Term One games at St Mary's School.
Ofafa who had in the past suffered in the hands of Upper Hill completed a double having beaten them last year in the rugby 7s final.
Jeff Andingo, James Ndura and Telvin Aliongo scored a try each to give Ofafa a 15-0 half-time lead. Steve Otieno converted a penalty in the second half without a reply from the opponent to see Ofafa seal their ticket to the National Term One games set for Hill School Eldoret.
Nairobi School and Hillcrest recaptured their boys' and girls' hockey titles after triumphing in their respective final ties. The two sides had last won the regional trophies in 2019 but failed to defend last year when the games resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic break.
Hillcrest beat last year's champions Mwiki Secondary 2-0 while Nairobi School held the nerve to edge out Hospital Hill 3-1 in a penalty shootout.
Kiana Patel and Jessie Wheeler were on the spot for Hillcrest to see them dethrone Mwiki and reclaim their lost glory.
After battling to a goalless first half, Patel broke the deadlock in the 36th minute from a penalty corner. Wheeler dashed Mwiki's hopes of recovering with her a 56th field goal giving her side a 2-0 lead four minutes to the final whistle.
Nairobi School had to once again work harder for victory after being stretched to a shootout for a third time in one competition.
Having played to a one-all draw in regular time, Nairobi School goalkeeper Brighton Makori knew too well that the onus of saving his side was in his hands. Makori did not disappoint, tactically saving three penalties to hand his side victory.
However, Nairobi could not have sealed the win if Clinton Atoi, Victor Muthomi and Mohammed Fofana did not deliver. The three stood out to be counted when it mattered most, outsmarting Hospital Hill custodian Moses Waweru to hit the board and seal the win.
In handball, Hospital Hill and Dagoretti Mixed retained their boys' and girls' titles respectively. Hospital Hill put up a spirited fight to force a 19-15 win against a relentless Highway Secondary who refused to go down easily.
Brian Barasa top scored for Hospital Hill with seven goals while Ezra Omoit led Highway with four. Morgan Wafula and Brian Wafula added four and five goals for Hospital Hill while David Mopes and Edward Wanyonyi tied on three for Highway.
Highway proved that they were no pushovers by ensuring that Hospital Hill doesn't infringe their territory at will.
In the girls' contest, Dagoretti Mixed proved that last year's win against Buruburu Girls was not a fluke by routing them 32-9 to retain their crown and book a ticket to the national games.
