School Games: Upper Hill win maiden national rugby15s title

Upper Hills Rolf Smith Ouma of Nairobi (with ball) is tackled by Mwata Mwakari of Menengai School from Nakuru county during KSSS Term 1 National games at Kangaru School Embu County on Saturday April 14, 2018. Upper Hill won on scores 15-12 of Menengai. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kaya Tiwi, St Anthony's Boys Kitale extend reign as Trans Nzoia also win.

Laiser Hill Academy, Kaya Tiwi, Upper Hill, St Anthony's Boys Kitale and Trans Nzoia Mixed were crowned yesterday as curtains fell on this year's Brookside Secondary Schools National Term One Games at Kangaru School, Embu County.

East Africa's most successful basketball team Laiser Hill proved that playing basketball is what they know best as they held their nerve to beat newcomers Sigalame 65-50. 

Unrelenting Sigalame gave Laiser Hill a run for their money forcing them to play catch-up for the better part of the match.

However, the seven-time East Africa champions were not ready to fall to minnows despite being down 20-28 at half-time and bounced back to end the championship on a high. 

Laiser Hill took  the first quarter 12-11 before fumbling in the second quarter as Sigalame settled in well to take it 17-8. Laiser Hill will have James Malek who was the games top scorer 28 points as well as coach Anthony Kirimi to thank. Kirimi who took to the touch line after the break seemed to be what Laiser Hill needed as he kept urging them to play on. 

Malek put his best foot forward and by the break of the third quarter the game was tied at 40-40. There was no looking back for Kirimi and his charges as they kept pushing for more points taking the final period 25-8 and leading to a well deserved 65-48 victory.

Laiser Hill captain Sheldon Ouma said that they took long to settle in the game, but it was their fighting spirit that helped them recover.

"We were not settled earlier in the game and it almost proved costly because we were forced to play catch up. However, our coach (Kirimi) came on time and he urged us to play on reminding us the we should play as the champions and we were inspired to give our all," Ouma said. Sigalame's Isaac Wafula was also impressive scoring 24 points.

Upper Hill beat Menengai High School from Rift Valley Region 15-12 in the final, with Daniel Katerega kicking in the drop goal to win his side a maiden title in sudden death. Upper Hill captain Rolf Smith Ouma said that teamwork and resilience won them the trophy.

"It feels good to finally win the national title after previous failed attempts. We refused to stop believing and even when trailing we knew we would come back," the skipper said.

Menengai, who had eliminated last year's winners Kakamega in the semis,  took the lead following two penalties from Britton Maluki for a 6-0 lead.

Upper Hill hit back as John Junior touched down but Menengai held a narrow 6-5 lead at the breather. Two more penalties from Maluki increased their lead to 12-5, but Upper Hill hit back with a try from Cedric Onyango with Katerega converting to send the game to sudden death.

St Anthony's Boys Kitale laboured to a 2-1 win against perennial rivals Upper Hill. In what was a repeat of the 2017 final, it was the Kitale based students who carried the day once gain to win their fifth national title. Trans Nzoia beat Tigoi by the same margin to reclaim the girls hockey title they had won in 2015.