By PHILIP ORWA and JOHN Lawrence
In what was reminiscent of a mud fight, Kenya Harlequin started the 2013 Safaricom Sevens Series on a high octane by dismissing every club in their pool.
The opening match of the Dala Sevens Series pit Quins against Kenyatta University aka BlackBlad on Saturday at Kisumu Polytechnic grounds.
The Quins looked like lads on a training session as they easily beat the BlackBlad 33 goals to nil. Mwamba would later in the afternoon face a stiff opposition as they struggled to beat a rejuvenated Eldoret RFC side 19:7.
The defending champions then took on Impala in a late evening kick off. Boasting of two key National Sevens players in the name of Eden Agero and Kevin Keagan on their side, Charles Cardovillis’ boys failed to make a mark in the first half. Oliech Samwel scored a late try to uplift Innocent Smiyu’s charges finishing the first half 5:0.
In the second half, little could separate the two sides as both fought for glory. However, Lady Luck would smile on the champions at the 10th minute when Benard Nyambok made a fantastic run that earned Quins a last minute try. Sensational Lyle Asiligwa’s conversion saved Quins’ face as the game ended 7:5 in favour of Harlequins.
Speaking exclusively to FeverPitch Agero said: “We came knowing it’s a fight and that’s what we got. We wasted lots of chances in the first half that came to haunt us later in the game,” said Agero.
Harlequins have qualified for today’s Main cup quarter finals at the after thumping Eldoret RFC 19-7 during their Pool A that was held on a mud-covered pitch.
Other teams that are through to the Main Cup are Ngong-based Impala RFC who piped Eldoret RFC 31-0. Impala of pool A also made Main Cup.
In Pool B, KCB sailed to the last eight with a game to auxiliary as they made light labour of their rivals. In their first match, last year’s circuit’s runners up beat a stubborn Western Bulls 12- 0 and came out 12- 7 against rivals Mean Machine 12- 7 in the second match.
The upset of the day came when favorites Mean Machine failed to make it to the Main Cup quarters after they lost two games going down 5-19 to Kisumu RFC and 7-12 to KCB.
Hosts Kisumu however lost their second game 5-19 to Western Bulls in a closely-fought game.
In Pool C, Former champions Mwamba also sailed through to today’s quarter-finals with two resounding wins. They opened their version with a win over KCA University.
In their second match, they were made to work hard before finally running out 26-12 winners over Egerton University. Also through in Pool C, are Strathmore Leos after two wins with a 31- 7 win over Egerton and a record 62 -0 win over KCA University.
Homeboyz have also qualified in Pool D as they aim to go one better than in Masaku. Homeboyz pound Stromers 36- 0 in their first match before sealing qualification with 38 -12 win over Daystar University.
Other results: Stathmore 62 KCA 0, Nakuru 38 Stomers 0, Webuye 14 Siaya 0, Mwamba 22 KCA 0, Impala 24 BlakBlad 0.
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