Menengai down Laiser Hill

Menengai forced their way into today’s Rift Valley Secondary Schools Term One games rugby 15s after a narrow 3-0 win over Laiser Hill yesterday.

Austin Sikutwa’s first-half penalty made all the difference in the semi-final clash played at St Joseph’s Boys School, Kitale, and shattered Laiser Hill’s hopes of advancing to the nationals.

Menengai, the reigning national 7s champions, face Kapsabet Boys today in the fight for the region’s lone ticket to next month’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One Games at Kangaru School, Embu.

Kapsabet whipped Baringo High 24-3 in their last four clash.

An elated Menengai coach Evans Adenya said their aim was to complete the job and secure a slot at the nationals.

“We have come this far and now the boys are raring to go all the way to East Africa.

“We are determined to lift the Rift Valley trophy and if we make it happen I will devote all my efforts to make sure we qualify for the East Africa games,” Adenya said.

He added that Laiser Hill were stronger physically, but his side had taken time to watch them play and analyse their strengths as well as weakness.

“It was a very tough match because our opponents (Laiser Hill) are a very good side that has quality players. We studied their game, including individual player capabilities, and that gave us an edge over them.”

Sikutwa, Davis Ochieng, and Roy Nandwa were superb for Menengai, ensuring they controlled the proceedings, leaving no room for mistakes.

In hockey, former girls national champions Trans Nzoia Mixed are a match away from securing a return to the national scene. The 2015 holders dismissed Tartar 3-1 in the semi-final.

In the Coast Region, Kaya Tiwi School pulled off a shock win over defending basketball champions Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, at Kenyatta Mwatate High School in Taita Taveta County.

To prove they had set their eyes on the national games in Embu, Kaya Tiwi School boys’ team won the match 56-43.

The match was a crowd-puller as hundreds of fans thronged the play court to watch the much publicised and eagerly awaited clash of the two giants.

Coached by Anthony Ojukwu, Kaya Tiwi were to play Mwambiti in their second match later in the day before they concluded the preliminary matches today with a match against Ganze.

Aga Khan Academy were to play Ganze yesterday before facing Mwambiti in their last match today.

True to his pre-match interview, Ojukwu took the lead right from the first whistle, with his boys playing like wounded lions as they fought to avenge last year’s defeat.

“It was sweet revenge after we lost to our opponent’s in last year’s semi-finals,” said Ojukwu. Coach Jimnah Kimani for Aga Khan Academy said he was optimistic of recovering from the loss and successfully defending the title.

Yesterday’s defeat was the second in a row for Aga Khan Academy after they surrendered the Mombasa County title to Shimo La Tewa last week.

In boy’s hockey, Mombasa’s St Charles Lwanga started the title chase strongly after edging out hosts Kenyatta Mwatate 1-0.