Kabras, Oilers storm into Great Rift 10-a-side quarters

Nakuru Kiti players battle with USIU during the Great Rift 10 Aside at Nakuru Athletics Club in Nakuru City, on April 19, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Defending champions Kabras Sugar and rivals Menengai Oilers made a formidable start after convincing victories as the Great Rift 10-a-side Championships kicked-off at Nakuru Athletic Club on Saturday.

Victories also followed in the paths of hosts Nakuru RFC and former champions Strathmore Leos in the group matches in the fight for top honours.

Kabras and Oilers won their first two matches convincingly to lead their groups and romp into the quarter-finals to be played this morning.

Kabras blanked USIU Martials 36-0 and followed it with a 39-7 win over Nakuru KITI to take a commanding lead in Group A with four points from two matches with a match at hand.

In their match against Nakuru KITI, the millers scored seven tries and two conversions. Brian Juma (two), Collins Osoro, Sam Omollo, Clinton Litali, Alvin Mutachi and Valerian Tendwa grounded the tries for the Kenya Cup champions, with Mutachi making two conversions.

In other Group A matches, Catholic Monks beat Nakuru KITI 17-5 and thereafter defeated USIU Martials 7-0 to join Kabras in the last eight.

Nakuru KITI bowed out after losing all their three matches.

On their part, Oilers dispatched Egerton Wasps 73-5 before demolishing Kabras University 50-0 to cruise into the last eight with maximum four points from Group B.

Oilers coach Ben Mwangi said they are taking a match at a time this morning now that they have strolled into the knockout stages.

"We are now taking a match at a time until we get to our destination," he told Standard Sports.

Strathmore Leos also won their first Group B matches. They first whitewashed Kabras University 24-0 before wrapping it up with a 24-12 win over Egerton Wasps to advance to the quarters with a match to spare.

Hosts Nakuru RFC popularly referred as Wanyore also won their first two matches in Group C.

Wanyore hammered NYS Scorpions 48-0, moments after humiliating Molo RFC 28-0.

Kenyatta University's Black Blad walloped NYS Scorpions 32-0 in their opening match in the same group.