Nyanza lift schools title after scaring away stubborn Bulls

BY JOHN LAWRENCE

Nairobi,Kenya:Nyanza Province are the Safaricom Sevens Schools champions after beating a stubborn defending champions Western Province as hosts Nairobi were relegated to the bowl finals.

Nairobi edged out Central Province 7-5 to lift the bowl trophy. Speaking to FeverPitch, Nairobi Province’s captain Balucci Kegode of Strathmore School described the tournament as the best his ever played in.

“The experience was great and I look forward to playing for my country,” he said. Eastern Province gave Tanzania a 34-0 thrashing in the Shield final.

National Olympic Committee President, Kipchoge Keino, who was the main guest, described the schools’ competition as the only way of inculcating rugby culture among Kenya. Kipchoge urged organisers of rugby events to introduce rugby to primary schools, saying rugby has better chances of winning in the Olympics.

National series champions KCB pulled a scare on Australia renegades, but they went down fighting with a 10-5 loss against the visitors.

Even as the rugby action unfolded, KRU Chairman Mwangi Muthee urged Kenyans to remain peaceful and enjoy the game. Muthee defended the Union for putting a lot of effort in promoting rugby Sevens than the 15s version, saying so far sevens is the only way of placing Kenya on the world map of rugby.

“You have to start from the known to the unknown and sports is about perception. You cannot sell what you don’t have. We have two products, the Kenya Sevens team and the Safari Series. Money generated from the two rugby products is what the Union uses to develop the fifteens,” he said.

CBA Samurai humiliated Kenya Sevens Academy 32-0. The match was followed by another enticing encounter pitting the experienced England Royals against Harlequin in which the latter beat the colonial royals a 10-5. Belgium, who looked shaky in their start against Impala, surprised many after a 28-0 win against the Gazelles.

Homeboyz’ fiddly affair against Grenoble ended in 0-19 thrashing as the local side could not even manage a single try from the French men.