Rugby fifteens champions All Saints off to a brilliant start

All Saints Embu High School rugby player celebrates after winning the 2024 national title against Butula Boys in Machakos. [File, Standard]

Reigning rugby 15s champions All Saints Embu launched their title defence with a resounding 27-3 win against Uganda's Busoga College as the 2025 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games entered day three.

All Saints, who lost their national title to Vihiga High School during the Term One games, made their intentions to retain the title known by dominating the game from start to finish. Their efforts would see them take a 15-0 half-time lead against the Ugandans who struggled to contain them. They put up a spirited fight in the second half to get the job done.

Team coach Benson Mwenda was impressed with first game victory.

"I'm happy we have started well and I know the boys will keep fighting because they really want this title. We focus on our next game with the aim of booking a semi-final slot," Mwenda said.

In rugby 7s, former East Africa champions St Peter's Mumias hammered Uganda's London College 31-0 and Makerere College 40-12 to enhance the chances of reclaiming their title.

This was the Rough Machines third win having edged out compatriots Friends Secondary School Bwake 19-14 in their opening match.

Bungoma High School beat 2023 winners Koyonzo Secondary School 19-7 in an all-Kenyan affair. Bwake recovered to thump London College 38-5 and revive their hopes of winning this year's trophy.

In hockey, Kenyan boys and girls had a good day in office save for Mpesa Foundation Academy lost to Uganda's Mbarara High School 2-0.

Boys champions Musingu bounced back from day one defeat to Kakungulu Memorial to thrash Ntare School 3-0 to keep their title defence hopes alive. Peter Kamau, Daniel Omondi and Newton Mwanga were on target for the Kenyans.

In another encounter record holders St Anthony's Kitale rallied from two goals down to salvage a point in a high-octane clash with Kakungulu that ended in a 2-2 deadlock.

Shafiq Byamukama and William Oojok scored for Kakungulu in the third and 45th minutes but the Kenyans pulled one back in the 54th minute through Kelvin Onyango.

Delvin Luganyi's 60th minute penalty corner conversion denied the Ugandans who are looking to recapture the title they lost to Musingu last year maximum points.

Last year's silver medallists St Charles Lwanga moved to the top of the table after registering their second victory. They beat Uganda's Kyadondo Secondary School 2-0 to make it two wins out of two. They top the table with six points, two more than St Anthony's and Kakungulu who have secured four points from a win and a draw.

Champions JOGA led the way as Kenyan girls dominated their Ugandan counterparts.

St Joseph's thrashed St Mary's Namagunga 13-0 whereas Mwiki maintained their good run with a 5-0 win against Sacred Heart Mushanga. Tigoi Girls and Ng'iya Girls saw off Kakungulu and Bweranyangi with an identical score of 2-0.