Kakamega, Sinyolo retain titles as other giants flop

Eric Otieno (left) of Bungoma High School, in action against Kakamega Boys High School during their East Africa Secondary School Games rugby match at Eldoret sports Club, Uasin Gishu County on August 29, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

East Africa rugby 15s champions Kakamega High School put up a spirited fight to beat unrelenting Chavakali 12-5 in the final as the Western Region Secondary Schools Term One games ended yesterday in Mumias.

In Nyanza Sinyolo Girls proved they are indeed the queens of schools hockey as they drubbed perennial rivals Nyamira to retain the regional title.

However, things were not the same for other champions. Nyanza sports powerhouse Maseno failed to successfully defend their 15s and boys hockey titles.

They lost their gongs to St Mary’s Yala and Kisumu Day. It was same script different casts in Western as giants Friends School Kamusinga fell to archrivals Musingu whereas Tigoi surrendered their gong to old foes St Cecilia Misikhu. The two lost by an identical score line of 1-0 in nerve wracking final matches.

Kakamega who are arguably the country’s most successful school in the sport were forced to sweat for their honour. Unlike past years when they could win convincingly, this year they fought to a 13-3 victory over archenemies St Peters Mumias in semi-finals. Chavakali on the other hand beat Vihiga 10-6 to book a date with the champions.

Kakamega coach Amos Wamanga told Feverpitch that the standards of the sport have improved a great deal and the reason they managed to pull through was because of early preparations.

“Competition was very stiff because all schools have worked hard to improve their standards. We only won because we never stopped training even after winning the East Africa title. They were better than us physically, but we were tactical and that gave us an edge over them,” Wamanga said.

In Nairobi, Parklands Arya began their hunt for the girls’ basketball and hockey titles with victories in their respective matches. Arya who lost to Buruburu in last year’s final announced their intentions to reclaim their their crown with a 61-35 win over Moi Girls Nairobi and 61-11 against Kayole South.

In hockey they beat Kianda School 3-0 and Hillcrest 2-0 to reach the knockout stage.

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