Kakamega silence Maseno: Former champions off to winning start as national school games start

National school games Abdel Maruti (left) of kamusinga and Vidicky Kisemei of Narok High School during the national school games at Kamusinga Friends School in Bungoma on April 12, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO

Kakamega High School launched their bid to reclaim the national 15s rugby title with a 17-9 win over Maseno School yesterday.

The 2013 champions sent the strong message as this year’s Brookside Dairy national secondary schools term one games got underway at Friends School Kamusinga.

Kakamega captain Wiseman Anganya told Feverpitch they had achieved their number one goal which was to win their opening match.

“We set objectives for the year and with them achievable goals that will help us accomplish our purpose. A win at a time is our strategy and I am glad we started on the right footing,” Anganya said.

He added: “I realised that we were losing ball possession in our territory which could prove costly in the next match. We will make amends in that area as we target our second win.”

Benjamin Okeyo put Maseno in the lead through a drop penalty two minutes into play. That saw Maseno settle early in the game as they kept terrorising the opponent’s defence.

Kakamega intensified their hunt for a reply and their efforts paid off in the tenth minute as Ibrahim Shikanda scored a try with Anganya converting for a 7-3 lead.

The match was highly charged with Maseno’s Spencer John and Cedrick Otunga of Kakamega forced to the sin-bin in the 11th minute.

Chrispinus Odero and Martin Oyugi scored a try each for Kakamega in the 16th and 30th minutes while Okeyo scored two more penalties for Maseno.

Kakamega play Moi Sirgoi while Maseno take on Kangaru in today’s matches. In another pool A match, Moi Sirgoi of Mau beat Kangaru 10-0. In pool B Bungoma play Upper Hill while Mang’u tackle St Georges.

Elsewhere, former basketball boys champions Upper Hill routed Wajir of Northern Region 88-9 in their opener while Alliance narrowly edged out Kapsabet 54-52 in pool A.

In the girls basketball contest, Coast champions Kaya Tiwi triumphed 51-23 over Buruburu Girls to register their first victory. In another group A match title favourites St Brigids Kiminini overpowered Kirigara of Highlands Region 54-34.

In hockey, 2014 girls champions St John’s Kaloleni silenced East Africa champions Sinyolo 3-2 to dent their title ambitions.

Sinyolo Girls coach Alloise Owino, however, said that all is not lost and his players have to rise up to the challenge.