Kimilili survive Sawagongo onsalught

By Ernest Ndunda

Defending champions Kimilili from Western Province escaped defeat by a whisker in their second match of the boys handball as the National Secondary Schools Term Two ‘A’ Games entered its second day yesterday at Shanzu Teachers College, Mombasa.

Kimilili were stretched to the limit and had to come from behind to edge out determined Sawagongo of Nyanza in a tense but action-packed match.

The teams met in last year’s final at Hill School, Eldoret, where Kimilili beat Sawagongo 34-27 to retain the title for the fourth year in a row.

In yesterday’s match played on a waterlogged pitch, Kimilili struggled to defeat the Nyanza representatives 25-23.

At half time, Sawagongo enjoyed a 13-10 lead but Kimilili came from behind to level the tally at 14-14, 16-16 and 23-23 before Kimilili scored two quick goals to sink their opponents.

Alex Serem and Brian Khandondi scored six goals each before Samuel Nalianya contributed five more for the winners. Gilbert Ochieng’, Onyango Omolo and Isaac Odhiambo notched 11, four and three goals respectively.

The win has propelled Kimilili to the semi-finals and today’s match against Kanunga would be a formality.

In another match, Changamwe from Coast revived their hopes of making it to the semis after beating Kanunga from Central 11-9. Thephilia Kioku and Chuka Ndune had three goals each for Changamwe, while Caleb Kamau scored three for the losers.

In a girls’ handball match, New Jogoo of Nairobi held Matuu of Eastern to a 5-5 draw as St Francis Cheptarit of Rift Valley clobbered North Eastern Province High School 50-0 in a one-sided encounter.

In netball, titleholders Shimba Hills of Coast powered their way to the semis with a match in hand after winning their two matches.

Shimba thrashed Nduluku from Eastern 61-9 and went ahead to dismiss Lang’ata of Nairobi 51-18.

Shimba defeated Langa’ta in last year’s final and yesterday’s victory proved that the former is ready to defend the title.

In another netball match, St Cecilia Misikhu from Western dismissed Nduluku 38-13 in a match played under heavy rains, which pounded Mombasa and its environs yesterday.