KCB crown Series victory with Driftwood title

KCB's Andrew Amonde in a past match. [Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

KCB came from behind to beat Impala Saracens 26-21 in the final of the Driftwood tournament as curtains fell on this year’s National Sevens Circuit at the Mombasa Sports Club yesterday.

It was double delight for the bankers, who also claimed the overall title for the first time since 2014 having collected 116 points in the six-legged Circuit.

The Ruaraka-based KCB won the inaugural Kakamega Sevens before achieving a similar feat at the Dala and Christie tournaments. The other two tournaments, Kabeberi and Prinsloo, were won by Mwamba RFC. 

In fact, KCB’s status as overall winners was confirmed as early as Saturday evening after their closest challengers Mwamba and Nakuru RFC failed to qualify for the Main Cup quarter-finals in the coastal city.

Denis Mwanja, the KCB Sevens coach, was part of the playing unit that won their maiden National Sevens Circuit in 2013 and following their weekend triumph, he joined the list of trainers who have won the Circuit as players and coaches.

In yesterday’s Driftwood Sevens final, KCB, who trailed 14-0 at halftime, scored through four tries and three conversions with Shaban Ahmed crossing the whitewash twice while the Sarries, as Impala is popularly known, managed three tries and a similar number of conversions.

Enroute the final, Mwanja’s charges scored four tries and two conversions to dismiss Menengai Oilers 24-5 in the quarter-finals before seeing off 2016 and 2018 Circuit winners Homeboyz 19-7 in the semi-finals.

Impala, under the tutelage of former Kenya Sevens player Oscar Osir, put three tries and a similar number of conversions past Kabras to beat the sugar millers 21-5 in the quarter-finals.The Sarries, who were yet to play a Main Cup final prior to the Mombasa outing, would then narrowly edge out their Ngong Road neighbours Kenya Harlequin 12-10 in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine claimed a 13th place finish at the Driftwood event after beating fellow students Strathmore Leos 14-10.

Kenya Harlequin bagged bronze after overcoming Homeboyz 15-10 in a match which was decided in sudden death following a 10-10 draw in regulation time.

Kabras Sugar settled for fifth position with a 12-10 victory over Nondescripts as Mwamba trounced Nakuru RFC 33-0 to lift the Challenge Trophy.