Upper Hill trounces Laiser Hill to lift rugby 7s crown

Part of the action between Upper Hill and Laiser Hill in the Boys rugby sevens during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term One ball games in Mombasa, April 12, 2019. [GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

Upper Hill are the new Brookside Term One games rugby Sevens champions. 

They dethroned Laiser Hill after yesterday’s 10-5 victory in finals at Shimo La Tewa School, Mombasa.

Upper Hill rallied from behind to outclass Laiser Hill’s early tries from Calvin Kaindi and skipper Brian Kimani. 

Laiser Hill seemed to control the game until Brunson Madigu was sin-binned before the end of the first half, allowing Upper Hill to take advantage.

An elated Kimani said they were determined to win the title having lost the national 15s title after losing at the Nairobi region games.

“We left no room for error. We wanted the title and resolved not to leave the games empty handed,” Kimani said. 

Laiser Hill, the East African champions, clearly missed the services of influential Nicholas Katoo, whose injury in the semis win against Vihiga on Thursday, ruled him out of the finals. Fireworks are expected in basketball finals when defending champions Laiser Hill and Kaya Tiwi meet. Laiser Hill will take on fast rising Dagoretti High while Kaya Tiwi take on Buruburu in boys’ and girls’ finals respectively.

Laiser Hill, who are chasing their eighth national title, beat newcomers Agoro Sare 83-52 while Dagoretti dismissed Alliance 67-44 to book a place in today’s final.

Kaya Tiwi were too good for St Brigid’s Kiminini beating them 70-38 while 2000 champions Buruburu overcame former national and East Africa holders Tigoi 59-47 to seal their places in today’s final.

In hockey, arch-rivals Friends School Kamusinga renew rivalry with St Anthony’s Kitale in boys’ final today. St Cecilia Misikhu and St John’s Kaloleni will battle in girls’ contest.

The Kamusinga and St Anthony’s clash promises a tough duel. Twelve-time winners Kamusinga are back in the final after a two-year absence. 

Kamusinga edged out Meru School 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out while St Anthony’s beat St Charles Lwanga 2-0 in semi-finals yesterday. In girls semis, Misikhu beat Nyamira Girls 2-0 as St John’s Kaloleni eliminated Kerugoya Girls with a similar margin.

In handball finals, champions Moi Girls Kamusinga and Kimilili Boys face Kirandich and Mbooni Boys.