No stopping for Telkom: Champions open 11-point gap in league battle

Hockey women premier- Vickings vs Telkom Telkom Audrey Omaido)l) and Vickings Winnie Ivayo(r) chase the ball When Vickings played Telkom at City Park Nairobi. ON 16/09/2017 (Jenipher Wachie)

Side eyes unprecedented 20th gong as race hots up.

Kenya Hockey Union women's League champions Telkom are on a roll. Their form has been the envy of many a team in the league.

They have been sounding the boards at will. Their opponents have not had it easy either. So ruthless are the champions that despite leading the league standings with 11 points, scoring has been their hobby.

And their match yesterday against United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans was no different. They won 6-0. For the 19-time champions, they are not about to relent; they are marching on. Their closest challengers Spartans are second with 34 points.

Chasing a 20th league trophy, Telkom have been impressive this season and remain unbeaten so far. The team's assistant coach Josephine Ataro was impressed with her charges' display against the Spartans saying they had shown improvement from last week's 3-2 win over Strathmore University Scorpions.

"We played better than we did last weekend and that is because we realised our mistakes and rectified them in good time," Ataro said. 

After a goalless first quarter, Barbara Simiyu converted a penalty corner to break the deadlock in the 20th minute. The USIU-A trio of captain Beatrice Mbugua, Rhoda Nyambura and Sandra Vodoti began its hunt for an equaliser but their efforts were thwarted by Telkom's backline of Terry Juma, Flavia Mutiva and Lucy Wangeci. 

Mutiva added the second moments later as her side led 2-0 at the break.

Rachel Njogu wasted an open chance to pull one back for her side in the third quarter as she failed to hit the target from the spot. Audrey Omaido converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute for a 3-0 lead.

USIU-A goalkeeper Nouville Becca yet again failed another test as Jane Ofula added the fourth two minutes later to give Telkom a 4-0 lead at the end of the third period.

Veteran Jackline Mwangi bagged a brace in the final quarter to give Telkom a deserved 6-0 victory.

In another women's encounter, Multimedia University upset Vikings 3-1 to register their second victory this season.

Winnie Wanyoike netted twice for the students, who returned to the league this season after a three-year break.

Rachel Nduta opened the scores for Multimedia seven minutes into play, before Wanyoike scored in the 15th and 60th minutes.

Sarah Bonareri scored Vikings' consolation goal in the 45th minute.

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