SCHOOL GAMES: Trans Nzoia, St Anthony’s edge close to regional trophy

Samuel Imeta and Meshack Babu after winning East Africa schools athletics championships. [Elizabeth Mburugu]

Kenyan boys and girls hockey champions St Anthony’s Kitale and Trans Nzoia Mixed are on course to winning the 2018 Brookside East Africa Secondary School games title here.

Five-time East Africa champions St Anthony’s, who are seeking to reclaim the title they last won in 2015 in Huye, Rwanda, have had a good run and are on top of the boys standings with six points from two matches played in a round-robin format. They are tied on six points with Musingu who they beat 2-1 in their opening clash. Musingu will have to win their remaining matches and hope that St Anthony’s will drop points in their subsequent matches to stand a chance of winning maiden East Africa title.

Upper Hill are tied on three points with Uganda’s Sir Samuel Baker and Kakungulu Memorial from one victory each while winless Ntare are at the bottom.

Trans Nzoia Mixed top the girls standings with seven points but face stiff competition from Uganda’s Kakungulu Memorial who also have seven points. Tigoi battle with Old Kampala in the bronze medal chase with five points while Bwenyarange have four points. Four-time East Africa champions Kerugoya had their hopes of a fifth title dashed and have only managed two points from two draws.

Champions Kwanthanze will square it out with compatriots Cheptil in an all-Kenyan girls’ volleyball semi-final. The other last four tie will be a Rwandese affair as 2015 winners GS Indagaburezi lock horns with IPRC Kigali who locked out last year’s finalists St Alloys for a place in Saturday’s final.

The semis clashes will set the stage for a Kenya and Rwanda final for a second year following last year’ battle between Kwanthanze and St Alloys, which the Kenyans won in Gulu, Uganda. Kwanthanze, who are eying for a fourth title, finished top of Group A after three wins out of three, while Cheptil were placed second in Group B behind top-placed Indagaburezi.

The former East Africa boys’ basketball champions need to be at their best when they lock horns with homeboys Lycee De Kigali in their last Group B match. The Kenyan boys must win today’s clash to book a place in the semis after losing their second pool match 69-47 to another Rwandese side Ste Marie Reine.

Laiser Hill, who last won the regional title in 2012, were severely punished after they surrendered a 17-12 first quarter lead as Reine capitalised on home support to win. They overpowered Laiser Hill to take the second quarter 15-6 and secure a narrow 25-23 advantage at halftime. The Kenyans could not fight back allowing their hosts to score in the third quarter 23-12 and fourth 19-12. They they must win today to book their place in tomorrow’s semis.

In the girls contest, newcomers Butere chalked up their only victory after beating Rwanda’s Adegi 50-32.